Summaries are in Finnish for attendees are availabe and reviewed in ethical approcval process
Abstract in English Background: Physical and cognitive demands on military service are ever-increasing in the Finnish Defense Forces. The University of Helsinki and Center for Military medicine are conducting a pioneering research initiative known as the NutFinForce study. This innovative project aims to evaluate the impact of a digital delivered lifestyle intervention on the defense performance of Finnish conscripts. Objective and Scope: The primary objective of the study is to enhance the physical and cognitive performance through targeted nutritional and lifestyle digital intervention. Equally we will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of personalized digital health coaching and support for adopting healthier dietary and lifestyle habits. The aim is to foster long-term health benefits for public health and to improve national defense capability that isa a cumulative outcome for optimizing health of reserve. Methodology: The intervention leverages a sophisticated digital platform that offers personalized guidance and support to participants. Special attention is paid to target group needs and military service as an environment in intervention design. Platform is accessible before, during, and after military service, ensuring opportunities for longitudinal and sustainable engagement and support. A large-scale implementation includes two sequential brigades (N=5000). Data collection will be conducted through the digital application platform used in the intervention. Expected Outcomes: Key outcomes will include improvements in nutrition and eating patterns and perceived physical performance as swell as perceived cognitive sharpness/performance as a variable for outcome. The study will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention, providing important data for future policy and practice within the Finnish Defense Forces and NATO ally military forces. Implications for Military Policy and Public Health: The findings from the NutFinForce study will have significant implications for military policy and practice. By demonstrating the benefits of digital health interventions that positively influence daily lifestyle behavior choices, the research could inform the development of future nutritional and lifestyle programs within the military. Moreover, the study's insights may have broader public health implications, highlighting the potential of digital health platforms to promote healthier behaviors and improve population health.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
5,000
Participating is realized by downloading the application to their phone with the privacy statement for participation in the study must be read and accepted before use can begin. Application can be removed at any stage. Intervention protocol and implementation responsibility is in the University of Helsinki and digital coaching tools is provided by the Metabite Ltd. Digital tool in the intervention is Metabite (https://www.metabite.com/) with specified version designed with the Finnish Defense Force. All content within the application is based on scientific evidence and has been reviewed for relevance and applicability to the Finnish context by local healthcare professionals
University of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
Eating habits and patterns
Group based analyses of eating contents will include averages and patterns e.g. Total Energy Intake, Fruit and Vegetables and Nutrient-Dense Foods Percentage of total Daily Energy Intake Energy-Dense Beverages like Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) and fruit juice Individual Food Groups and macronutrients Energy-Dense Nutrient-Poor (Ed-Np) Foods Diet Quality Score Rating
Time frame: 24 moths
Nutirion component analyses
Proportion of vegetable and fiber intake among users pre and post intervention
Time frame: 24 moths
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