Facteurs influençant l’apport alimentaire en rations des soldats canadiens dans l’Arctique : un sondage national

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
25 Août 2022

Résumé

Objectif. Documenter la perception des soldats des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) quant aux facteurs influençant leur apport alimentaire en rations de combat durant leur travail en Arctique.
Méthodes. Un questionnaire bilingue électronique a été envoyé nationalement à des soldats s’étant entraînés dans l’Arctique entre 2015 et 2018. Il comportait 6 questions ouvertes et 33 fermées sur les facteurs influençant l’apport alimentaire et l’acceptabilité des rations.
Résultats. Parmi les 54 questionnaires remplis (taux de réponse : 31 %), 6 étaient incomplets et ont été exclus. L’échantillon final était composé de 48 militaires de neuf provinces ayant en moyenne 12,1 ± 6,8 années d’expérience dans les FAC. Les facteurs ayant le plus d’effets négatifs sur l’apport alimentaire étaient la température des aliments, le fait de manger en se déplaçant, l’horaire des exercices et activités, ainsi que l’équipement nécessaire à la préparation et à la consommation. Les participants ont déclaré avoir consommé entre 61 et 71 % des rations. Ils ont noté qu’un temps considérable était nécessaire pour préparer les rations puisqu’elles étaient congelées. Soixante-cinq pour cent des soldats ont rapporté une perte de poids durant leur travail dans l’Arctique.
Conclusions. Une multitude de facteurs a influencé l’apport et les pratiques alimentaires des soldats. Ces résultats guideront les recherches futures et aideront à la prise de décisions concernant de possibles changements aux rations en Arctique.

Abstract

Purpose: To document Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) soldiers’ perceptions of factors influencing their dietary intake of combat rations during Arctic field training.
Methods: A bilingual digital questionnaire was sent nationally to soldiers who trained in the Arctic between 2015 and 2018. It consisted of 6 open-ended and 33 closed-ended questions on factors influencing ration intake and acceptability.
Results: Of the 54 completed questionnaires (response rate: 31%), 6 were incomplete and were excluded. The final sample consisted of 48 military personnel from nine provinces with an average of 12.1 ± 6.8 years of CAF experience. Factors with the greatest negative impact on dietary intake were food temperature, eating on the move, exercise and activity schedules, and equipment needed for preparation and eating. Participants reported consuming between 61% and 71% of their rations. They noted that a considerable amount of time was required to prepare the rations since they were frozen. Sixty-five percent of soldiers reported weight loss while training in the Arctic.
Conclusions: Multiple factors influenced soldiers’ dietary intake and practices. These results will guide future research and assist in decision-making regarding possible changes to Arctic rations.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 84Number 1March 2023
Pages: 54 - 57
Editor: Melissa Anne Fernandez

History

Received: 30 Novembre 2020
Accepted: 30 Mai 2022
Version of record online: 25 Août 2022

Mots-clés

  1. armée
  2. Arctique
  3. ration
  4. apport alimentaire

Key Words

  1. army
  2. Arctic
  3. rations
  4. dietary intake

Authors

Affiliations

Florence V. Lavergne Dt.P., M. Sc.
École interdisciplinaire des sciences de la santé, Faculté des sciences de la santé, Université d’Ottawa, ON
Raphaëlle Laroche-Nantel Dt.P., B. Sc., M. Sc. (c)
École interdisciplinaire des sciences de la santé, Faculté des sciences de la santé, Université d’Ottawa, ON
Denis Prud’Homme M.D., M. Sc.
Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB
Isabelle Giroux Ph. D., Dt.P., B. Éd., ÉFI, FDC
École des sciences de la nutrition, Faculté des sciences de la santé, Université d’Ottawa, ON

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