Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
The Rodent Psychomotor Vigilance Test rPVT: A Method for Assessing Neurobehavioral Performance in Rats and Mice
Published on: December 29, 2016
US Navy Sailors Modify Their Eating Behaviors to Pass Cyclic Physical Readiness Tests
Melissa R Troncoso1, Candy Wilson2, Jonathan Scott3
1Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Portsmouth, VA.
Objective:
Investigate the influence of physical readiness tests (PRTs) on eating behaviors among US Navy Sailors.
Design:
Focused ethnography using interviews and military policies.
Setting:
Three US Naval installations.
Participants:
Active-duty enlisted Sailors (n = 32).
Phenomenon Of Interest:
Eating behaviors.
Analysis:
Authors analyzed data iteratively with data collection using domain, taxonomy, and thematic analysis to identify culturally relevant codes, domains, and themes.
Results:
Five themes corresponded with PRT timing and Sailors' perceived ability to meet standards: (1) maintain usual eating habits, (2) get ready and switch it up, (3) make weight-damage control, (4) return to baseline-PRT is over, and (5) eat whatever-PRT is canceled. In contrast to the PRT policy's goal for Sailors to maintain standards and a healthy lifestyle, many Sailors modified their usual eating behaviors to pass the test.
Conclusion And Implications:
Changes in eating behaviors during PRT cycles highlight a culture of getting ready vs staying ready, suggesting many Sailors do not eat a nutrient-dense diet to maintain the minimum physical fitness and body composition standards. There is a need for nutrition education for healthy weight maintenance, weight gain prevention, and healthy weight loss among military personnel.
