Energy intake, weight, and body composition of Canadian soldiers participating in an Arctic training

Authors

  • Florence Lavergne Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
  • Raphaëlle Laroche-Nantel University of Ottawa
  • Dr. Denis Prud'homme University of Moncton
  • Professor Isabelle Giroux School of Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa

Abstract

Military training in extreme environments increases weight loss risk, which could affect soldiers’ performance. This study aimed to assess daily energy intake and requirements of Canadian Armed Forces soldiers consuming combat rations over an 8-week Arctic training and document impact on weight and body composition. Fourteen soldiers participated (males; 31.3±5.5 years). Body weight and composition were measured at different training time-points. Energy intake was measured using food diaries. Energy requirements were estimated using a predictive equation developed for the military. Fourteen soldiers participated. Weight loss was measured (3.9±3.0 kg) for 12 participants from beginning to mid-training after a week consuming combat rations. Energy intake on rations was lower than estimated daily energy requirements and resulted in energy deficits (49.8±19.2%). No body composition changes were measured. More research is needed to explore ways to make rations better adapted to reduce energy deficit and maintain soldiers’ body weight in extremely cold environments.

Author Biographies

Florence Lavergne, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa

Florence Lavergne, M.Sc., is a Registered Dietitian (R.D.). She is part of an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Ottawa collaborating with the Canadian Armed Forces. She obtained her Master of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Ottawa. She is a research assistant and dietitian working in clinical practice. She graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Nutrition Sciences of the School of Nutrition Sciences of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Ottawa.

Raphaëlle Laroche-Nantel, University of Ottawa

Raphaëlle Laroche-Nantel, B.Sc., is a Registered Dietitian (R.D.). She completed an Honours Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Sciences at the School of Nutrition Sciences of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Ottawa. She is a master’s student part of the interdisciplinary research team of Isabelle Giroux at the University of Ottawa collaborating with the Canadian Armed Forces. As part of her Honours Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Sciences she received an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Bursary and completed a 4th year practicum at the Canadian Armed Forces.

Dr. Denis Prud'homme, University of Moncton

Denis Prud’homme, M.D., M.Sc., Full Professor, is the President of the University of Moncton. Dr. Prud’homme was previously Associate Vice-President, Research and Scientific Director of the Institut de recherche de l’Hôpital Montfort, the Montfort Hospital’s research arm. He earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in human kinetics from Laval University before becoming an MD specializing in family medicine. He has been a full professor at the School of Human Kinetics of the University of Ottawa, where he served as dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences from 2002 to 2012. He has worked in clinical practice at the Clinique de médecine du sport Outaouais. Dr. Prud’homme studies the effects of physical activity on groups (adolescents, men and women) with health problems such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. He also studies how language barriers affect health, specifically on how such barriers affect access to high-quality, safe, health care for members of Francophone minority communities.

Professor Isabelle Giroux, School of Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa

Isabelle Giroux, Ph.D., is a Registered Dietitian (R.D.), a Fellow of Dietitians of Canada (FDC), and a Professional Home Economist (P.H.Ec.). She is a Full Professor of nutrition and the Director of the School of Nutrition Sciences of the University of Ottawa. She was previously Vice-Dean Academic (student and professional affairs) at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Ottawa (2019-2021). She was assistant director – undergraduate studies of the School of Nutrition Sciences from 2015 to 2019. She is actively involved in professional affairs as a dietetic educator (since 2000), dietetic program surveyor (since 2008), member of the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) of Canada Accreditation Standards Development Working Group (2012-2014), Chair of the French Network of Dietitians of Ontario and Canada (2007-2015), and member of the PDEP Steering Committee as a dietetic educators’ representative since 2015 (co-chair 2016-2018, 2020-2021).  She is a researcher of the Institut du Savoir Montfort and does interdisciplinary research.

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Published

2021-10-09

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1

Section

Articles