DefenceNutri

Eating patterns among conscripts in the Finnish Defence Forces:  Exploring formation of food choices and intervening to promote healthy life-style 

Consortium Leader: Docent Antti Uutela1,2
 
Leaders of the sub-studies: Docent Antti Häkkinen2; Docent Harri Pihlajamäki2,3

Other members of the research group:  DrPsy Pilvikki Absetz1, MSc Clarissa Bingham-Teissala1, MSc Liisa Gröndahl4, DrSocSc Heikki Heinonen1, MEdu Karoliina Hofman5, Docent Tommi Hoikkala2,6, DrSocSc Piia Jallinoja1, MD, PhD Vesa Jormanainen7, MSocSc Marja Kinnunen1, MD, PhD Pekka Koponen3, MD, PhD Kyösti Lehtomäki4, TTM Päivi Nykyri 8, MMilSc Olli Ohrankämmen4, MSocSc Anni Ojajärvi6, MSc Merja Paturi1, MScTuija Paldanius9, MSocSc Mika Pyykkö8,Docent Timo Sahi2, DrSocSc Mikko Salasuo6, MSocSc Niina Suuronen9, Prof. Hely Tuorila2

Organizations: 1 National Public Health Institute (KTL), www.ktl.fi; 2University of Helsinki, www.helsinki.fi; 3Finnish Defence Forces, Center of Military Medicine, www.mil.fi; 4Finnish Defence Forces, General Headquarters, www.mil.fi; 5Soldier's Home Organization, www.sotilaskotiliitto.fi; 6Finnish Youth Research Network, www.alli.fi/nuorisotutkimus/ntverkosto; 7Pfizer, www.pfizer.com; 8Finnish Centre for Health Promotion, www.health.fi;  and 9Finnish Defence Forces Service Center for Catering (www.mil.fi)

ABSTRACT

The epidemic of male overweight and obesity is a special concern to the Finnish Defence Forces and to those responsible for public health. Military service is a phase in a young man's life when eating patterns may be significantly reformed and the last moment of life when the food consumption patterns of an almost entire male generation may be influenced. The consortium combines nutrition sciences with cultural, sociological and psychological perspectives in consumer decision-making and explores the food choices during military service as a result of both supply and demand. The consortium consists of two coordinated projects: Project 1 examines the development of masculine cultures and health sense, and their influence on eating patterns among young Finnish men during the military service. The main focus is on social representations and prototypes that may influence decision-making processes used for making food choices.  Moreover, project 1 studies the soldier's homes' and garrison canteens' ideological and practical nutrition related objectives and logics of their personnel and voluntary workers. Data collected for project 1 consists of qualitative interviews and ethnographic observation. Project 2 is a theory-based intervention study aiming to improve the eating habits of the conscripts in order to prevent increase in body weight and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The intervention is based on data collected in project 1 and includes two phases: One targeting the garrison canteen and Soldier's Home Organization personnel and voluntary workers to increase the supply of healthy food choices, the other targeting the conscripts to increase the demand of healthy food products. The second phase adds to the first, supply phase and is based on theories of expansive learning and the demand phase on dual process models of decision making, emphasising the roles of both experiential and rational processes contributing to the choices. Experimental design allows a rigorous process and impact evaluation based on quantitative methodology, with data on sales and consumption rates,  anthropometric measures, clinical risk factors, physical fitness, food choices and other health behaviours, taste preferences, dispositions for rational or experiential processing in decision-making, and attitudes. Both projects will be done in the garrisons of the Kainuu Brigade and the Armoured Brigade. The consortium cooperates with the brigades, the garrison canteens and the Soldier's Home Organization in the design, implementation and evaluation of the intervention. The results tell about the applicability of behavioural and social science theories in public health problems, thus influencing theory development, and have relevance for practice development, too.  Furthermore, if successful the intervention will have substantial public health impact.

Key words:   Consumer behaviour, food choices, conscripts, garrisons, masculinity, experimental design, multi-phase intervention influencing supply and demand