P116 - Baseline Diet Adequacy of Army Soldiers Supports the Need for a Planned Dining Facility Intervention

Abstract

Background (Background, Rationale, Prior Research, and/or Theory): Recent studies depict sub-optimal diet quality scores of soldiers at a Fort Bragg dining facility (DFAC). Poor diet quality may contribute to the increasing military overweight rates and associated comorbidities. It is unclear if similar diet quality scores will be attained at other military installations. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine Soldiers' current dietary intake and diet quality at a Colorado military dining facility (DFAC). Study Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention: In 2017, Pennington Biomedical Research Center partnered with U.S. Army researchers to assess dietary intakes of soldiers at a designated Fort Carson, CO, DFAC. A total of 89 soldiers were recruited and asked to consume three meals in the DFAC over a 2-day period. Soldiers' dining trays were captured using digital photography methodology before and after food consumption. Foods consumed were estimated by two trained dietitians. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Foods consumed were analyzed for nutrient content using the FNDDS 2013–2014. The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (100 points maximum score), a measure of diet quality that reflects the most recent version of the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, was calculated for soldiers who had complete dietary data. Data were analyzed using SAS® version 9.4 software. Results: Forty-one soldiers provided complete dietary data for at least one day (all three meals). Mean HEI-2015 total score was 63.1 + 9.0 and the lowest component score was whole grain consumption (0.25 + 0.7 points). Total protein reached 94.5% of the maximum score; while total fruits, vegetables and dairy reached 64.7%, 80.6%, and 67.4% of the target, respectively. Conclusions and Implications: Low diet quality scores support the need for a DFAC nutrition intervention aimed to improve food offerings and Soldiers' healthy eating scores at the Fort Carson DFAC. These results echo the need for interventions to increase diet quality in military dining facilities. Soldiers tasked with defending our nation need to be in optimal nutritional status. Funding: Department of Defense. Disclosure: The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.