The Impact of Energy Drinks on the Army - Research Proposal Example

The Impact of Energy Drinks on the Army Physical Fitness Test 1. Background The purpose of this study is to establish if the consumption of energy drinks impact the results of the Army Physical Fitness test (APFT) and affects readiness among U.S. Army forces. This stimulant is very popular among the military population and the massive consumption can have numerous effects for the health and behavior of military members. This is a constant concern for the Army leadership which is responsible to maintain minimum standards to retain eligible personnel according to military policy. The Army profession represents significant challenges that pressure individuals to use these stimulants to overcome stress and anxiety. Taking an approach to strengthening Army forces physical, psychological, and emotional inner self is a very important task. This task can increase unit readiness and the ability of Soldiers, families and civilians to deal with the continuous changes of the Army profession. 2. Problem/ Issue The problem is to uncover the effects of current consumption of energy drinks among military members of the United States Army. Energy drinks are threats that compromise our nation’s ability to project military power. The unhealthy behavior and poor health among military personnel presents a significant threat to our Army’s most basic mission. These challenges affect military budget and the sense of value within the organization. With downsizing of military services and the constant economic challenges it will be essential to optimize the health and performance of individual service members. The military need to face these concerns and emerge stronger and more resilient to address the demands of immediate and long-term combat effectiveness. 3. Research Objective This research study will focus on answering the following questions in detail. How many energy drinks intake Soldiers of a military unit at Fort Shafter, Hawaii? What are the trends that contribute to the intake of energy drinks? What education is required in terms of energy drinks consumption? Why energy drinks are preferred over other healthy options? 4. Assumption This research study will focus on the impact of energy drinks on the APFT in a military unit. We will assume the following points during the course of this study. Military personnel are mandate to pass the APFT in accordance to Army regulation Military personnel have to abide by the rules set by Military component APFT score is recorded in Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Report (NCOER) The Army discharge Soldiers who fail the APFT in accordance to Army policies Energy drinks can alter APFT results APFT results of Soldiers that consume energy drinks are not accurate APFT of Soldiers under the influence of energy drinks is not a good physical readiness predictor The APFT is comprised of four tests: the push-up, sit-up, and the two mile run All the APFT records were accurately recorded All individuals surveyed put maximal effort to truly answer the survey 5. Definition of terms 6. Hypothesis APFT score is tied to the amount of energy drinks ingested daily. Develop Chapter II, Literature Review (20 sources citation) 1. Review of related literature Nearly 118 years ago, the U.S Army made its initial efforts to nurture and use an organized physical training program. One of the main facts acting as driver is the program development and all later enhancements which remain unaltered. From the initial years , the preponderance of new entrants to the U.S. Army do not have the adequate physical fitness levels for carrying out their duties more efficiently in a combat. Since the birth of U.S. Army in 1775, this has been the case and at the end of the Civil War, this was more apparent. As per Reagor (1998), reports of the poor physical status of over one million Civil War recruits ended in a fresh drive for physical and military training in schools. For preparing its soldiers for combat, the U.S. Army has recurrently fine-tuned its fitness regimen. FM 21-20 Physical training has been the unique source of physical training perused by U.S. army since 1941. The outdated FM 21-20 physical training was replaced by Army Physical Readiness Training (APRT) in March 2010. United States Army doctrine considers the effect of physical fitness as a significant factor which has direct impact on mission preparedness. U.S army learned hard lessons from Korean War as deployment of 540 not well-trained soldiers were routed by North Korean army. As per U.S. Department of Army (2009), an army’s unit physical training program should be footed upon the unit’s most physically demanding skills, the program should include activities like foot marching for shorter distances like 3 to 5 miles under fighting load, loading and lifting equipment, organizing for impediment course negotiation and movement strategies for individuals. The non-commissioned officers and officers in U.S. Army even today witness the same challenge. U.S. Army soldiers considered to have considerably lower standards on the current Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). These lower standards are more common in the youngest recruiters in the age group of 17-21. As per FM 21-20 norms , in 1992 , male and female military recruits were anticipated to perform respectively 82 and 72 push –ups , and 92 and 90 sit-ups to accomplish the maximum score of 100 in those events. In the year 1998, revision of FM21-20 was made, and due to this, these norms were scaled down to 71 and 42 push-ups, 78 sit-ups for accomplishing the same scores of 100 in each program. Batchelor (2008) research study examined the effectiveness of the present APFT in deciding Soldier combat preparedness. Batchelor found that the APFT was not adequate to evaluate the essentials of functional movement as recognized in both the TRADOC assignment and top six tasks recognized in ILE survey. As per O’ Donnell (2001), though light infantry units successfully completed their training of the physical readiness elements detailed in the present doctrine, motor mobility and efficiency were proved to be nearly non-existent in unit program. Page 20 As per Walter Reed Army Institute of Research study, which investigated whether there is any correlation between combat-operation sleep disorders and use of energy drink among military soldier, the conclusion was negative. The above research study data from Afghanistan revealed that above 44% of commissioned service members took at least one energy drink on day-to-day basis and about 14% soldiers consumed more than three on daily basis. Thus, those soldiers who consumed more than three per day energy drink experienced sleep less than four hours a night and also witnessed ongoing fatigue and stress Energy Drinks Beverages which are christened as energy drinks like Full Throttle, Pimp Juice, Monster Energy, Rock Star , Red Bull , 5 Hour Energy are very famous, particularly with U.S. army soldiers. These so called energy drinks are promoted to give the consumers a higher energy level, to enhance attention span and to make an individual to more awake. . Energy drinks are promoted in various serving sizes and have varying quantum of caffeine. The usual ingredients in the energy drinks are caffeine, sugar, cocoa, Guarana– a plant with seeds that have caffeine, herbs including licorice, ginseng and kola nut and B-vitamins. The following are the health risks associated with energy drinks – enhanced heart rate, enhanced blood pressure, abnormal heart rate and shivers, insomnia –sleep disturbances, enhanced urine production like diuresis, and enhanced blood sugar. Though, individual need an energy boost occasionally¸ an energy drink may not be the answer to get the energy as claimed by the manufacturers. It is to be noted that FDA has not defined the term “energy drink “, but the manufactures have claimed it as a hype. There is little scientific evidence to back these elements to support the kind of claims by manufacturers of energy drinks. The preponderances of energy drinks include high-tech-sounding elements that are not controlled substances, and hence, they are hypothetically destructive. As the energy drink contain various stimulants that when mingled can be perilous and may have negative impact on the human body. Continuous usage of energy drinks may result in side-effects like weakness of the leg, stomach upset, being jittery, heart palpitations and nervousness. Though consumption of energy drink may give energy boost but it may also result in concentration issues, agitation, insomnia, hyperactivity, blood pressure and nausea. Caffeine is a stimulant whereas alcohol is a depressant and any mix up of these two may have negative impacts. Caffeine and alcohol are also diuretics that can result in dehydration and finally, consuming more alcohol and the burst of energy from the caffeine and sugar may misrepresent the state of inebriation. If a soldier consumes an energy drink before fitness test, it could enhance his blood pressure, overstimulate his nervous system or heart beats (Zeiman 2014). The Negative Aspects of Energy Drinks As per U.S. Army, an investigation is going on whether a famous bodybuilding and weight-loss supplement is the cause for the death of two soldiers as they witnessed serious health issues like kidney and liver damage. During their physical training, these two soldiers witnessed heart attacks and died early 2011. The dietary supplement DMAA was found in their bodies during a toxicology test. The U.S Army initiated an ongoing safety review after it had found other grave health impacts among potential and known users of products containing DMAA. It is alleged that 5-Hour Energy contains especially high doses of B12 and B6 vitamins. Some research study have found that negative health impacts with B-vitamin mega doses in some patients. As per experts, large quantum of vitamins do not result in a feeling of vigor and the human body employs the vitamins it requires and simple excretes the balance. There is no corroboration available that huge quantum of vitamins above the recommended daily levels speed up metabolism. (Armytimes.com 2012). Trends that contribute to the intake of energy drinks? CDC reported footing upon the 2010 National Health Interview Survey data that one in three adolescents in USA took an energy drink in the last week , 21% had more than one energy drink in the last week and 11% consumed more than three energy drinks in the last week. (Park et al., 2013, p.112). Energy drinks are normally offered like soda and will have a soda-analogues taste, but their differentiation from soda lies in the additional ingredients added with them or at least the addition publicity engulfing the ingredients. Due to caffeine impact, energy drinks are often propagated as one that gives “enhanced mental awareness”. As per the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , caffeine contents in energy drinks normally varies from just 50mg to a whooping figure of 505 mg per bottle or can. (Reissig, Strain & Griffiths, 2009, p.5). Why education is required in terms of energy drinks consumption? Caffeine is the most famous stimulant that is widely consumed in the world and majority of the consumers is of the view that it offers an instant energy with absolutely no side impacts. However, it is not truth and as per the University Of Massachusetts Department Of Emergency Medicine and the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, caffeine can increase the blood pressure levels, worsen psychiatry conditions, interrupt sleep practices and induce reliance. Excessive caffeine intake may result in caffeine intoxication that ends in vomiting, death, seizure and fast heartbeat. (Szpak & Allen, 2012, p.1502). The manufacturers of energy drink are not mandated by law that energy drinks are not needed to detail out whether or not the herbs they employ have been applied with toxic pesticides, watered or irradiated with contaminated water supplies. Thus, the consumers are left at dark as there is no way for them to know what other toxins are included in these energy drinks and whether or not these herbs will have a negative impact or not (Thought Pursuits, 2012). Though the manufacturers of energy drinks claim that their drinks can have positive impact on mental performance, research studies have demonstrated that when contrasted against placebe, a sugar-free lemonade, consuming energy drinks had no positive impact on reasoning, concentration or aptitude. (Wilhelm et al, 2013, p.57). As per the study conducted by the Department of Exercise Science at Creighton University which carried over a randomized cross-over study to evaluate the impact of sugar-free Red Bull on one repetition bench press. 17 participants took part in the study and the outcomes suggested that the Red Bull had no enhancement or improvement of one repetition bench press performance. (Eckerson et al., 2012). The University of Louisiana study has warned that both physical and mental impacts of energy drinks may be damaging to workplace safety, particularly in healthcare sector as it may result in arrhythmias and changed sleeping patterns. (Guilbeau, 2012, p.428) As per Operation Enduring Freedom research study conducted in Afghanistan revealed that in excess of 44% U.S Soldiers had at least one energy drink on daily basis and about 14% of them consumed more than three per day and these soldiers had sleeping problem as they had only just 4 hours sleep at night and they were suffering from fatigue and stress (CDC, 2012, p.898). Why energy drinks are preferred over other healthy options? Worldwide , each week, more than 9 million vials of 5-Hour Energy vanish from store shelves which is a clear indication that majority of us are badly in need of a quick boost for sleep-deprived days. The demand for instant energy is especially very acute in the U.S. military, where these small quantum of caffeine, organic and amino acids and vitamins have demonstrated an especially popular middle-of-an-op pick-me up. The sale of energy drinks crossed $9.2 million across military exchanges in the year 2011 alone. About one percent of the aggregate $1 billion sales was comprised of sales to military which does not include what the soldiers buy in Commissaries, where sales in the first seven months of fiscal 2012 reached $1 million. As per Air Force Staff Sgt. William White, 5-Hour Energy helps him to stay afresh during his 12-hour shifts. According to him, 5-Hour Energy offers him the required energy to pass through the night and it does with less calorie intake and sugar. 5-Hour Energy was introduced in the market in 2004 and since then , it has become a high profit earning subsidiary for its parent company namely Living Essentials Inc , a privately held company in the U.S.A. According to Forbes magazine, the 5-Hour Energy 2011 sales reported to be about 90% of the all the U.S. based energy drink market. Though the 5-Hour Energy lists the details of the ingredients in the label, however, it is not required to list out the information about contents or levels of caffeine, or additives like amino acid taurine which has been found by some research studies that it enhanced cognitive and athletic function. 5-Hour Energy is fundamentally a blend of caffeine and with the large doses of B vitamins – which includes in excess of 200 times the recommended daily quantum of B12 – a mixture of amino and organic acids, which the company propagates, that it would deliver “ hours of energy” without a peril of a sugar crash. However, as per researchers, the caffeine is the likely accountable for the punch. As per 5-Hour Energy label, the quantum of caffeine is in one original 2-ounce shot is analogous to the quantum found in a “cup of the premium brand coffee”. As per ConsumerLab.com, a single 5-Hour Energy shot includes 201 mg of caffeine which is somewhere between a tall and medium Starbucks cup and the caffeine analogues of drinking a six-pack of Coke at a time. The Use of Energy Drinks in US Army As per U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), U.S. soldiers have access to and are in the habit of using dietary supplements, particularly weight-loss supplements, energy drinks, protein supplements and creatine. Arsenault & Kennedy (1999) conducted a study on the intake of dietary supplements by U.S. Army Special Operations which surveyed about 2,215 respondents and the outcome indicated that about 85% of men were using energy drinks on daily basis. These findings indicate that use of energy drink among army personnel might be much higher than that by the U.S general population. As per Radimer (2003) , higher percentage of consumption of diet supplements due to soldier’s worry over the significance of enough nutrition and health status for military training. It is also feasible that ergogenics to enhance performance like creatine , which would be preferred over vitamins or minerals that could be visualized as having nutritive but not performance inducing impacts. (Committee on Military Nutrition Research 2006). The Need for a Regulatory Push The FDAs Center for Food Safety and Nutrition supervises after-market safety of supplements, while the Federal Trade Commission controls their advertisement. It is to be noted that the manufactures are not required to demonstrate that their drink is safe for human consumption,though, they are responsible for making sure that all supplements are safe before the introduced in the market. As per the Journal of Medical Case Reports (2011), a twenty-two year old woman suffered with acute hepatitis after consuming 5-Hour Energy shots- about 10 cans per day which was far beyond a recommended quantity of just 2 can per day. However, Living Essentials, the manufacturer of 5-Hour Energy has received any warning letters so far from the FDA on any safety issues after the above incident. This demonstrate how corporate lobbying is wielding its influence over FDA. Nonetheless, some consumer groups and law makers has called for tighter regulations on energy drink manufacturers due to recent health concerns over supplements. FDA, in May 2012, issued a warning to health manufacturers to stop adding DMAA – 1, 3 dimethylamylamine, which is also known as methylhexanamine or occasionally called as “geranium extract” – to fitness supplement due to health concerns. Consumers group have called for tighter regulations and better labelling for supplements in energy drinks, following the death of a young girl in Maryland who died of a heart attack after drinking two 24-ounce energy drinks in a day. Some senators have expressed their serious concerns for the sale of energy drinks with high caffeine levels that are specifically targeted towards children As per Senator Durbin, the differentiation between foods and dietary supplements with dietary ingredients additives is not always obvious, thereby creating a space for some beverages and food products are being propagated as dietary supplements so as to escape from the safety norms demanded for food additives. Hence, Senator Durbin urged the FDA to elucidate the meaning of conventional foods and FDAs power to monitor the safety of foods, including energy drinks, comprising dietary supplement ingredients. California based cardiologist namely Dr.Ramin Manshadi is of the opinion that more regulations and more studies are need of the hour as the energy drinks negatively impact the cardiovascular system ,distorting the intricate electrical system that guides the heart’s rhythm. Some studies on Air Force and student pilot suggest that energy drinks in general and especially caffeine in them –enhance cognitive reaction times. Thus, it is recommended that FDA should have a complete QT study on the new drugs invading the market. FDA is not presently monitoring the nutraceutical and herbal market and FDA should include these sectors also in their monitoring category. The Defense Department should initiate an education program to forewarn the troops and families about the probable health perils of consuming supplements. Operational supplement will target to educate personnel about the individual’s supplements and to indulge in educated decision-making (Armytimes.com 2012). Develop Chapter III, Methoydology 1. Research approach 2. Procedures 3. Decision criteria 4. Reliability/Validity Instruments 5. Scope and limitations 6. Testing Variables Zeiman,K. (2014). What is the Buzz about the Energy Drinks? Retrieved 19 May 2014 from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=77036 Reissig CJ,Strain EC& Griffiths RR. (2009, January 1).Caffeinated Energy Drinks – A Growing Problem. Drug Alcohol Depend. Retrieved 19 May 2014 from drugalcdep.2008.08.001. Epub 2008 Sep 21. Review. Szpak A & Allen D. (2012). A Case of Acute suicidality following excessive caffeine intake. J Psychopharmacol, 26 (11) 1502-1510 Park S, Onufrak S, Blanck HM, & Sherry B. (Jan 2013). Characteristics associated with consumption of sports and energy drinks among US adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2010. J Acad Nutr Diet, 113 (1), 112-119. Wilhelm P, van Diepen MA, Nieuwenhuis L, & Boulogne TL. (2013). The Effect of Energy Drinks on the Cognitive Performance of adolescents. Tijdshr Psychiatr, 55(1), 57-62. Eckerson JM , Bull AJ , Baechle TR , Fischer CA , O’Brien DC , Moore GA , Yee JC & Pulverenti TS.(2012). Acute Ingestion of Red Bull Energy Drink has no impact on Upper Body Strength. J Strength Cond Res. Guilbeau JR. (2012). Health Risks of Energy Drinks: What Nurses and Consumers need to know? Nurs Women Health, 16(5), 423-428. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2010). Energy Drink Consumption and its association with Sleep Problems among U.S Service members on a combat deployment- Afghanistan. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 9:61(44), 895-898. Thoughts Pursuit. [2013, December 25). The Health Dangers of Energy Drinks. Retrieved 19 May 2014 fromhttp://www.thoughtpursuits.com/health-dangers-energy-drinks-proofs/# Armytimes.com. (2012). Boost on the ground: Troops love 5-Hour Energy, but experts raise health concerns. Retrieved 19 May 2014 fromhttp://www.armytimes.com/article/20120601/OFFDy UTY03/206010302/Boost-on-the-ground-Troops-love-5-Hour-Energy-but-experts-raise-health-concerns Committee on Military Nutrition Research.(2006). Military Requirements for Military Personnel. New York: National Academics Press. Read More