BACKGROUND: Nationwide surveys in the United States found that certain health-related factors, in particular cigarette smoking and obesity, were more prevalent in veterans than in non-veterans. PURPOSE: The objective of this paper was to compare health-related characteristics and dietary intakes between veterans and non-veterans in the Multiethnic Cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cohort participants (aged 45-75 years), residing in Hawaii and California at baseline, completed a mailed questionnaire on diet, medical history, and lifestyle in 1993-1996. The current analyses included 20,939 men (14,975 veterans and 5,964 non-veterans) who returned a survey questionnaire on military service in 2007. RESULTS: Compared to non-veterans, veterans were more likely to be overweight and obese (BMI≥25, 61% vs. 55%), former smokers (54% vs. 47%), heavier consumers of red and processed meat, and lighter consumers of fruits and vegetables. Within the veteran group, enlisted men were more likely to be obese, to have a history of smoking, to consume more processed meat and to consume smaller amounts of dairy products and fruits than officers. CONCLUSION: The findings imply that veterans as a group are at somewhat higher risk of developing lifestyle-related chronic diseases than are non-veterans. Comparisons of actual differences in disease incidence and mortality in the Multiethnic Cohort between veterans and non-veterans will require several more years of follow-up.
BACKGROUND: Nationwide surveys in the United States found that certain health-related factors, in particular cigarette smoking and obesity, were more prevalent in veterans than in non-veterans. PURPOSE: The objective of this paper was to compare health-related characteristics and dietary intakes between veterans and non-veterans in the Multiethnic Cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cohort participants (aged 45-75 years), residing in Hawaii and California at baseline, completed a mailed questionnaire on diet, medical history, and lifestyle in 1993-1996. The current analyses included 20,939 men (14,975 veterans and 5,964 non-veterans) who returned a survey questionnaire on military service in 2007. RESULTS: Compared to non-veterans, veterans were more likely to be overweight and obese (BMI≥25, 61% vs. 55%), former smokers (54% vs. 47%), heavier consumers of red and processed meat, and lighter consumers of fruits and vegetables. Within the veteran group, enlisted men were more likely to be obese, to have a history of smoking, to consume more processed meat and to consume smaller amounts of dairy products and fruits than officers. CONCLUSION: The findings imply that veterans as a group are at somewhat higher risk of developing lifestyle-related chronic diseases than are non-veterans. Comparisons of actual differences in disease incidence and mortality in the Multiethnic Cohort between veterans and non-veterans will require several more years of follow-up.
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Authors: Leah L Zullig; Valerie A Smith; George L Jackson; Susanne Danus; Merritt Schnell; Jennifer Lindquist; Dawn Provenzale; Morris Weinberger; Michael J Kelley; Hayden B Bosworth Journal: Clin Colorectal Cancer Date: 2016-05-07 Impact factor: 4.481
Authors: Gokulakrishnan Balasubramanian; Neil Gupta; Maria Giacchino; Mandeep Singh; Vijay Kanakadandi; Srinivas Gaddam; Sachin B Wani; April D Higbee; Amit Rastogi; Ajay Bansal; Prateek Sharma Journal: United European Gastroenterol J Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 4.623