A standardized educational intervention ameliorates deleterious effects of mandatory service on lifestyle habits in Austrian conscripts: a cluster-randomized trial.

The intervention group showed a significantly lower mean increase in BMI over the 6-month service period compared to controls.

• Intervention group BMI increase: +0.68 ± 0.17 vs. control group: +2.33 ± 0.34
• 173 male conscripts completed the study (85 intervention, 88 controls)
• Subjects were followed for the full 6-month mandatory service period
• A significant intervention effect over time was detected using linear regression models

The intervention group exhibited a substantially lower increase in body fat percentage compared to controls.

• Intervention group body fat percentage change: +0.15 ± 0.99 vs. control group: +1.59 ± 0.75
• Body composition was measured through bioimpedance analysis
• A significant intervention effect over time was reported

Fat mass index increased substantially less in the intervention group than in controls.

• Intervention group fat mass index change: +0.14 ± 0.30 vs. control group: +2.33 ± 0.38
• Fat mass index was assessed via bioimpedance analysis
• The intervention effect over time was statistically significant

The Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) decreased significantly less in the intervention group than in controls over the service period.

• Intervention group AHEI change: -0.20 ± 7.19 vs. control group: -4.45 ± 8.03
• AHEI was calculated from a self-reporting food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)
• The difference in AHEI change between groups was statistically significant

Nutrition knowledge increased significantly more in the intervention group compared to controls.

• Intervention group nutrition knowledge change: +0.17 ± 0.15 vs. control group: +0.02 ± 0.13
• Nutrition knowledge was assessed through a validated questionnaire
• The difference in knowledge gains between groups was statistically significant

The educational intervention consisted of 15 hours of standardized lifestyle education delivered within the first month of mandatory service.

• The study used a cluster-randomized controlled trial design in two companies of a Guards regiment in Austria
• 173 male subjects completed the protocol (85 intervention, 88 controls)
• The intervention was education-based and standardized
• The study was registered with ISRCTN under reference number ISRCTN13067220

Mandatory military service in Austrian conscripts was associated with increases in BMI, body fat percentage, fat mass index, and decreases in diet quality in the control group.

• Control group mean BMI increased by +2.33 ± 0.34 over 6 months
• Control group body fat percentage increased by +1.59 ± 0.75
• Control group fat mass index increased by +2.33 ± 0.38
• Control group AHEI decreased by -4.45 ± 8.03, indicating worsening diet quality