This phenomenological qualitative study investigated the social and ecological determinants that influence military child overweight and obesity behaviors. The study identified and examined where the greatest influences lie in to proactively target those behaviors with health prevention strategies within military communities where services can make positive change. The study examined the behavior influences - interpersonal, intrapersonal, institution, community, and policy - using the social-ecological model to analyze leverage points for health promotion strategies. Qualitative data was obtained from 1 hour interviews with 10 civilian spouses of active duty Army soldiers who have 18 school-age children, 6-17 years of age. The achieved goals were to (a) identify the social-ecological behavioral determinants that impact negative obesity habits in the military child, (b) examine the ecological exposures to understand their influence on military child obesity, and (c) analyze the significance of ecological influences associated with obesity among military children. Results revealed that the most significant determinant of military child overweight and obesity found was the military permanent change of station resulting in decreased healthy eating and physical fitness activities and increased sedentary behaviors during the 6-9 month pcs cycle. Another finding contradicted earlier studies citing deployments lasting longer than six months have a negative impact on physical fitness and emotional health of the military child. In this study the military child exhibited little to no negative and, in some cases, positive influence on military child overweight and obesity during deployments regardless of duration.
Keywords: overweight, obesity, military, youth, social-ecological, behavioral determinants