Health Behavior & Policies in Military Communities

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Table of Contents

Discussion of CPSTF Policies
Alternative Strategies for Improving Military Communities’ Health
Conclusion
References

Modern military communities are believed to be one of the most important social groups due to their performance and provided service for the government and civilians. Due to this fact, it is incredibly important to be concerned about the military communities’ health, lifestyles, and daily habits. However, the lack of control in this sphere may lead to a range of aspects that can be detrimental to military performance. According to the Task Force on Community Preventive Services (the Task Force, CPSTF) (2017), “obesity, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse pose a significant threat to military readiness and resilience” (p.4). This paper is aimed at discussing the policies provided by CPSTF to lower tobacco use and presenting practical strategies which could maintain the healthy lifestyles of the military communities.

Discussion of CPSTF Policies

Smoke-Free Policies

One of the most effective methods to decrease the usage of tobacco and shorten the smoking rate among military communities is to implement smoke-free policies. The concept of smoke-free policies, provided by the Task Force, implies the reduction of public places and particular areas where smoking is officially permitted. The research on the possible outcomes, carried out by CPSTF, demonstrates a wide range of benefits gained by implementing smoke-free policies. For instance, the suggested strategies are known “to significantly reduce secondhand smoke exposure, decrease the initiation of tobacco use among adolescents, and lessen specific illnesses, induced by tobacco” (“More Ways to Increase”, n.d., para. 4). In addition, these policies are likely to lead to the downturn of medical care costs, which may be either economically or personally beneficial. By implementing smoke-free policies, the government would not only improve the population’s health but also significantly cut down the expenses on medical care offered to smoke military communities.

Tobacco Price Increase

Another efficient method to improve the health of military communities is to raise prices for cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco-made products. A demand for a particular product in certain social groups may cause a range of conflicts regarding income and ethnicity issues. The results of the research by CPSTF indicate that due to the tobacco price increase it became possible to “reduce tobacco-related health gaps, or disparities, among people in different income groups and may reduce disparities among different race and ethnic groups” (“More Ways to Increase”, n.d., para.5). It is also important to note that after the implementation of the recommended Task Force interventions, “smoking rates among Navy and Marine Corps service members decreased by 3% and 6%” respectively (CPSTF, 2017, p.6). As a result, by increasing tobacco prices, it became possible to successfully scale down the consumption of tobacco among military communities. In case of further development of this policy, the number of smokers among these and other groups would certainly diminish.

Alternative Strategies for Improving Military Communities’ Health

Physical Activities

It is often alleged that an increase in daily physical activity might lead to the improvement of personal health and well-being. According to the Task Force (2018b), one of the potential beneficial methods is to encourage active traveling to schools or work by using bicycles or on foot. The suggested method was successfully implemented in a few countries such as Australia and Japan, and as a result, the healthcare costs were reduced, and the obesity rate was decreased (CPSTF, 2018b). However, the proposed approach also turned out to be economically and ecologically beneficial due to the reduction of automobile usage, air pollution, traffic congestion, and emission of greenhouse gases (CPSTF, 2018a). Moreover, active traveling to work would significantly improve an individual’s well-being in terms of physical endurance, stamina, and fitness. Since military communities are required to have specialized physical training, this method would be one of the most useful ways to increase the health rate in these groups.

The Change of Nutrition Habits

It is popularly believed that the change in personal diet by reducing the consumption of specific products may turn out to be the crucial factor for an individual’s well-being. The results of the research, carried out by CPSTF demonstrate that the interventions regarding the nutrition changes “include improvements in cardiometabolic outcomes such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol” (CPSTF, 2018a, p.10). Furthermore, it is possible to note that the benefits of these interventions “include student enjoyment and development of taste preferences for fruits and vegetables” (CPSTF, 2018a, p.10). By elaborating individual nutrition recommendations for military communities and particular diets, considering each serviceman’s level of daily activity, it would be possible to reduce obesity and improve their health significantly.

Conclusion

Taking everything into account, it is essential to consider each military community member’s level of physical activity daily. Before elaborating specific recommendations and methods for a particular individual, it would be useful to accomplish a thorough examination of their lifestyles and habits to reveal particularities related to the individual’s health. Apart from that, it is possible to emphasize that all the methods suggested for a particular group or an individual require an integrated approach. That is to say, all the arrangements and recommendations on health improvement should include either change in nutrition habits, or physical activities and the reduction of tobacco consumption.