The data that are available to address this issue are extremely limited. Food preference surveys conducted in the military during the past three decades have included female participants. These surveys reveal substantial gender differences in food preferences that are largely consistent with data from college populations. The detailed findings from these surveys as well as some of their limitations will be reviewed in this presentation.

Information on nutrient intake in female troops subsisting on operational rations is much more limited. Studies conducted in the 1980s and in the early 1990s included a very small number of female participants, and the limited data indicated a number of nutrients were not consumed in sufficient quantity to meet the MRDA. During 1995, a substantial number of women participated in a field study that was concerned with the effects of high environmental temperature and ration macronutrient composition on food and fluid intake. The data from this study and their limitations also will be reviewed in this presentation.

David M. Garner, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University and Toledo Center for Eating Disorders, Toledo, OH 43617

It is well recognized that there are significant health consequences to eating disorders and disordered eating. Research has documented complications associated with starvation, self-induced vomiting, and purgative abuse leading to electrolyte disturbances, general fatigue, muscle weakness, cramping, edema, constipation, cardiac arrhythmias, paresthesia, kidney disturbances, swollen salivary glands, dental deterioration, finger clubbing, edema, dehydration, bone demineralization, cerebral atrophy, and other physical symptoms (see Table A-7). Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. The mechanisms of action for the major complications will be briefly reviewed.

It is well recognized that there is a connection between restrictive dieting and eating disorders. The most important factor predicting restrictive dieting is weight and shape dissatisfaction. Various approaches to gathering information on disordered eating have been suggested, including standard clinical interviews, semistructured interviews, behavioral observation, standardized self-report measures, symptom checklists, clinical rating scales, self-monitoring procedures, and standardized test meals. These methods have different aims, strengths, and weaknesses. There are special problems associated with screening for psychopathology in samples such as military women, where identification could lead to censure. Overcoming these obstacles is a key to accurate identification and intervention with those suspected of disordered eating or eating disorders. Methods for gathering information must minimize defensiveness, denial, and falsification of responses. On POWR '95, two items from the Eating Disorders Inventory proved to be good screening items. However, there is a need for additional screening questions to improve ''hit rate." It was concluded that it is desirable to use existing measures such as the Eating Disorders Inventory or EAT since these instruments have demonstrated reliability and validity.

Front Matter (R1-R16)

Executive Summary (1-24)

1 Introduction (25-32)

2 Body Composition (33-60)

3 Physical Fitness Policies and Programs (61-86)

4 Weight Management (87-108)

5 Nutritional Concerns of Military Women (109-126)

6 Pregnancy and Lactation and Postpartum Return-To-Duty Fitness (127-156)

7 Conclusions and Recommendations (157-170)

Appendixes (171-172)

A Workshop Summary, Agenda, Participants, and Abstracts (173-252)

B Practices and Policies Tables (253-262)

C Military Occupational Specialty Classification Tables (263-280)

D Search Strategy for Literature Review (281-284)

E Civilian Inquiry Letter and Table of Responses (285-290)

F Abbreviations (291-294)

G Bibliography (295-334)

H Biographical Sketches (335-338)

Index (339-352)