%0 Journal Article
%T US Navy Sailors Modify Their Eating Behaviors to Pass Cyclic Physical Readiness Tests.
%A Troncoso MR
%A Wilson C
%A Scott J
%A Deuster PA
%J J Nutr Educ Behav
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 28
%M 38944798
%F 2.822
%R 10.1016/j.jneb.2024.05.232
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Investigate the influence of physical readiness tests (PRTs) on eating behaviors among US Navy Sailors.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Focused ethnography using interviews and military policies.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Three US Naval installations.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Active-duty enlisted Sailors (n = 32).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Eating behaviors.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Authors analyzed data iteratively with data collection using domain, taxonomy, and thematic analysis to identify culturally relevant codes, domains, and themes.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>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.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>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.