Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

C: Conclusions and Recommendations from the Workshop Report: Not Eating Enough
Pages 77-94

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 77...
... Appendix C Conclusions and Recommendations from the Workshop Report Not Eating Enough Submitted Seplember 1995
From page 79...
... Heavy activity or environmental extremes may increase energy requirements without compensating ration intake. Hypohydration may lead to temporary anorexia and a worsening cycle of lowered water and food intake.
From page 80...
... It would be an important future research step to provide a priority order for the impact of these multiple factors on soldier food intake in the field.
From page 81...
... Similarly, decrements in cognitive performance appear to begin to occur when weight losses reach 10 percent of baseline. It is likely that greater losses of body fat will not affect cognitive performance, if lean body mass is preserved.
From page 82...
... To overcome possible effects of underconsumption on physical and cognitive performance, efforts should continue to increase the overall consumption of rations by military personnel in the field through a variety of approaches, which include establishing a f eld feeding doctrine at all levels within the command structure down to the individual soldier. Such a f eld feeding doctrine would include definitions of adequate food intake for soldiers in military operations and the potential consequences to performance and health of not eating enough.
From page 83...
... This question will be addressed in the last section of this chapter, Areas for Future Research. CONCLUSIONS The Underconsumption Problem Studies of field training exercises typically report underconsumption of military operational rations.
From page 84...
... In contrast, limited studies using A Rations or mixed rations in field settings have shown energy intakes approximating energy expenditure (cf., Rose and Carlson, 1986~. Therefore, it appears that under certain conditions, consumption of rations in the field can equal energy expenditure.
From page 85...
... The individual will face a further weight loss with lower fat reserves and consequently lose lean body mass with even a relatively small loss of body weight. Therefore it seems prudent to minimize body weight losses when possible during operations to maintain a high degree of fitness and performance.
From page 86...
... Then a field feeding doctrine could be developed in which each of these major factors is quantified, enabling field commanders to make informed choices relative to the situations in the military operation. Significant efforts on the part of the U.S.
From page 87...
... Therefore it seems useful to evaluate those factors that may optimize the MRE system to better meet the nutritional needs of the soldier under these potentially adverse conditions. RECOMMENDATIONS The goal of field feeding is to provide sufficient water, food energy, and nutrients to maintain the soldier's hydration status, body weight, and lean body mass.
From page 88...
... the tests being used to measure performance decrements. guiding principle of this field feeding doctrine is that the energy intakes of military personnel during training and combat operations should be adequate to meet their energy expenditures.
From page 89...
... As a minimum, body weight measures should be done routinely as part of deployment and return activities. Weight losses in the range of 10 percent in operations extending over 4 weeks raise the concern of reduced physical and cognitive performance and have possible health consequences in some of the individuals in the unit.
From page 90...
... This training would improve ration consumption and thus help to minimize performance decrements. The impact of inadequate fluid and food on physiologic function and performance should be emphasized to commanders in light of their importance as role models for increasing soldier food intake.
From page 91...
... This system could be used in all field conditions including combat operational training. · Additional field studies should be conducted that monitor energy intake and energy expenditure using doubly labeled water measurement techniques in temperate and hot environments for comparison with the six existing studies conducted in cold and high-altitude environments.
From page 92...
... Identification of critical and appropriate physical and cognitive tasks, and careful measurement of performance during field operations or recruit training when weight loss is anticipated, would assist in further quantifying the relationship between underconsumption and performance. · Future field studies should address the question of MRE food item wastage as it relates to specific nutrient intake in relation to energy intake and expenditure.
From page 93...
... 1986. Effects of A Ration meals on body weight during sustained field operations.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.