Healthy lifestyles among military active duty service members, and associations with body-building and weight-loss supplement use

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize health behavior profiles among active duty service members and associate these profiles with body-building and weight-loss dietary supplement (DS) use. Methods: Based on U.S. active duty service members who completed the 2011 Health-Related Behavior Survey (n = 39,877), we used latent class analysis to place respondents into latent classes (using healthy/unhealthy food consumption, aerobic activity, strength training, and sleep) and examined associations between latent class and DS use. Results: We identified seven health behavior classes that could be classified by physical activity and diet. Three classes with high activity were further characterized by healthy diet (24%); few unhealthy foods (18%); and unrestricted diet (9%). Three classes with low activity were further characterized by restricted diet (15%), healthy diet (15%), and unhealthy diet (6%). The last class (13%) reported moderate levels of all behaviors. The classes did not vary by sleep. Participant characteristics across most classes were relatively homogenous along demographics and military branch. The active classes had relatively higher usage of body-building and weight-loss DSs. Conclusions: Latent classes from health behavior indicators might be considered “market segments”, which can be targeted with distinct messaging. Service members appear to consume DSs as part of an otherwise healthy lifestyle.