A group of researchers, led by Dr. Daniel Bornstein, is receiving media attention from news outlets across the country, including USA Today, for an article recently published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. The article, “Which US States Pose the Greatest Threats to Military Readiness and Public Health? Public Health Policy Implications for a Cross-sectional Investigation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Mass Index, and Injuries Among US Army Recruits” reframes the negative effects of physical inactivity and low fitness from an issue that impacts public health to one that directly and indirectly affects military readiness and national security. Bornstein, an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Science at The Citadel, maintains that the way to affect policy is to speak the language of the policy makers.

We had the chance to sit down with Dr. Bornstein recently to talk about the article and how aligning public health needs with the issues that matter to policy makers can create greater buy-in.

 

Which States Pose the Greatest Threats to Military Readiness and Public Health? Public Health Policy Implications for a Cross-sectional Investigation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Mass Index, and Injuries Among US Army Recruits

DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000778

Authors: Daniel B. Bornstein, PhD; George L. Grieve, MS; Morgan N. McLain, MS; C. Alexander, PhD; Laurie P. Whitsel, PhD; Michael W. Beets, PhD; Keith G. Hauret, MSPH; Bruce H. Jones, MD; and Mark A. Sarzynski, PhD

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For further reading, consider these related articles from the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice*:

• Crafting Richer Public Health Messages for A Turbulent Political Environment
• Politics and Public Health—Engaging the Third Rail
• Getting the Word Out: New Approaches for Disseminating Public Health Science

*Articles may require a subscription to JPHMP or purchase.

 

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• Study claims physically fit military recruits are hard to find – especially in the South
• Physically fit recruits for Army are hard to find. Especially in these states
• US Army Recruits May Pose Threat to Military Readiness
• Unfit Army recruits posing threat to national security