Lifestyle Indicators of Private and Corporals in the Military Police of Vitória-Es Municipality

Abstract

Introduction: The lifestyle of military personnel can increase the risk of disease. Lifestyle can be considered a way of life involving values, choices, daily practices, forms of consumption, leisure habits, work, religion and socializing, expressing the characteristics of an individual or group, and can increase the risk of disease in military officers. Objective: This study aimed to compare the lifestyles of military police soldiers and corporals in the municipality of Vitória-ES. Materials and methods: 29 military police officers, 14 soldiers, and 15 corporals, had their lifestyles assessed using the Fantastic Lifestyle questionnaire, which included family and friends, physical activity, nutrition, smoking and drugs, alcohol, sleep, seat belts, stress, safe sex, type of behavior, introspection and work. Sleep quality was also assessed, by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale involving sleep factors such as subjective quality, latency, duration, habitual efficiency, disorders, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction, as well as the classification of poor sleep quality, sleep disorders, and quality. Results: Corporals were found to have higher body mass (p= 0.012), BMI (p= 0.039), and length of service (p= 0.001). As for lifestyle, there was a difference (p= 0.025) in nutrition, with 43% of the soldiers being very good and 60% of the corporals being good. In terms of sleep quality, 60% of the soldiers had poor sleep quality and 40% of the corporals had some kind of sleep disorder. Conclusion: Corporals had higher body mass, BMI, and sleep disorders, while soldiers had poor sleep quality. Level of Evidence III; Study of Non-Consecutive Patients, without Uniformly Applied “Gold” Reference Standard.