P3.282: Creating Healthy Heroes: Understanding Challenges to Healthy Eating in Military-Connected Children

Background: The climbing rates of obesity among American children and adolescents, presents alarming and far-reaching consequences. Beyond the well-established adverse physical and psychological health burden, this epidemic casts a long shadow over the United States economy and military readiness. Notably, 33% of young adults aged 17-24 exceed military weight standards, disqualifying them from entry into military service, which directly impacts national security. While the etiology of obesity is complex, cultivating healthy eating habits early in life is paramount, not only for individual well-being but also as a crucial strategy to mitigate economic strain and ensure a strong military force. Given their increased likelihood of future service, military-connected children represent a vital target for health promotion efforts. However, research specifically addressing the unique barriers faced by these families remains limited. While some challenges mirror those of civilian families, military families encounter distinct obstacles such as frequent relocations, constrained access to nutritious food options on military installations, and food insecurity. Identifying these barriers is essential for developing strategies to support military families and prepare the next generation of service members.

Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a voluntary survey directed towards military families with children residing within the National Capital Region. The survey gathered comprehensive data on demographics, access to food, affordability of healthy food choices, and the dietary habits prevalent within these military-connected families (Table 1). Data collection is ongoing and will conclude by June 2025.

Results: Preliminary survey data shows that despite reported cooking knowledge and access to fresh produce, 84% of parents and over 90% of children consume fewer than the recommended five servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day in a typical week (Figure 1). Most participants indicated cooking at home frequently and expressed comfort with meal preparation, yet parent and child consumption of pre-made and fast food was similar and most parents did not identify picky eating as a significant issue in their children. Furthermore, the survey data indicates some persistent concerns regarding food insecurity among participating families, at rates consistent with prior reports, irrespective of their perceived eligibility for assistance programs like WIC or SNAP.

Conclusion: Preliminary findings reveal a novel insight: parents report strikingly similar suboptimal dietary patterns with their children, despite reported access to healthy foods and confidence in meal preparation. This suggests that interventions targeting the dietary practices of military-connected parents could exert a direct and positive influence on the eating habits of their children. Consequently, focusing on the nutritional well-being of military families not only has the potential to bolster the readiness and health of service members but also to proactively cultivate the physical and mental well-being of the next generation of the American military, ensuring their future capacity to serve the nation.