A cohort study of body mass index changes among U.S. Air Force personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic period continues to be felt, including a resulting increase in prevalence and rates of individuals with obesity within the Unites States, which had already been trending upward prior to the pandemic. This study aims to identify changes in body mass index (BMI) among the active-duty U.S. Air Force (USAF) personnel prior to and during the pandemic.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of USAF active-duty personnel. BMI data points were sourced from the Military Health System Data Repository and included a measure from each period: pre- (September 1, 2018 - February 28, 2020), early (March 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020), and late pandemic (October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2022). Pregnant women delivering du

SUBMITTER: Merfeld J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11817703 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature