J Prev Med Public Health.  2014 Jul;47(4):230-235. 10.3961/jpmph.2014.47.4.230.

Analysis of the Change of Health Status Among the Republic of Korea Air Force Soldiers During Military Service

• Yoo SJ
• Park WJ
• Lee K
• Lim HS
• Kim HJ
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2381420
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2014.47.4.230

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the health status of Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) soldiers changed after one year of military service.
METHODS
We selected 483 ROKAF soldiers from the 11 749 recruits who participated in the 2011 physical examination. The selected soldiers underwent another physical examination in 2012 for advancement to senior airman. Data from 2011 and 2012 were merged. To collect data on lifestyle, a questionnaire was sent to all included subjects via the military intranet e-mail service.
RESULTS
The percentage of recruits with an abnormal alanine transaminase level (normal range <40 IU/L) decreased from recruitment (13.7%) to the following year (2.7%). Moreover, the percentage of obese soldiers (body mass index > or =25 kg/m2) decreased from recruitment (20.5%) to the following year (10.4%). There was a significant change in mean duration of exercise carried out each day before (0.8+/-1.3 hours) and after (1.0+/-0.7 hours) joining the ROKAF service.
CONCLUSIONS
These ROKAF soldiers were generally in good health before and after joining the armed service. After one year of military service, the health status of most soldiers improved, especially with respect to body mass index and alanine transaminase level.

Keyword

Military personnel; Life style; Body mass index; Alanine transaminase

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase/blood
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Body Mass Index
Exercise
*Health Status
Humans
Internet
Life Style
Military Personnel/*statistics & numerical data
Questionnaires
Republic of Korea
Alanine Transaminase