EVALUATING SELF-REPORTED DIETARY HABITS AND BARRIERS AMONG ROTC CADETS ACROSS BODY MASS INDEX CLASSIFICATIONS

Limited data exist on the overall and sports nutrition knowledge among Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets across different body mass index (BMI) categories. PURPOSE: We aimed to study ROTC cadets' dietary habits and barriers across BMI groups. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were obtained from 184 ROTC cadets regarding validated questionnaires, such as the Perceived Barriers to Healthy Eating (PBHE), Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), and Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Short Version (REAPS). The cadets were stratified into body mass index (BMI) groups: underweight (RESULTS: Chi-square analyses showed BMI-related differences in responses to REAPS' breakfast skipping question (χ²=14.289, p=0.027, V=0.199), with normal BMI cadets most often skipping breakfast. No other differences were found for REAPS questions. For FCQ's ‘is it expensive’ (χ²=18.423, p=0.031, V=0.185), healthy BMI individuals valued this factor more. PBHE responses differed among BMI groups for the question, “How healthy do you think you've eaten in the past 12 months?” (χ²=31.909, p=0.001, V=0.244); healthy BMI cadets reported more unhealthy or neutral eating, while overweight cadets felt they ate healthily. Regarding barriers to healthy eating, cadets cited busy lifestyles (89%), irregular hours (47%), and limited cooking facilities (56%), with no BMI group differences. CONCLUSION: Cadets' perceptions of eating habits varied by BMI; healthy BMI cadets skipped breakfast and saw their diets as less healthy, despite valuing cost. While all groups faced barriers, these findings highlight the need for targeted nutrition education and practical strategies to promote healthy eating among cadets, regardless of size. This was an unfunded project.