Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 17-week, 3-component lifestyle intervention for enhancing health behaviors during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods A parallel-group (intervention and control) study was conducted amongst 79 airline pilots over a 17-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention group ( n = 38) received a personalized sleep, dietary, and physical activity (PA) program. The control group ( n = 41) received no intervention. Outcome measures for sleep, fruit and vegetable intake, PA, and subjective health were measured though an online survey before and after the 17-week period. The changes in outcome measures were used to determine the efficacy of the intervention. Results Significant main effects for Time × Group were found for International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Walk ( p = 0.02) and for all other outcome measures ( p < 0.01). The intervention group significantly improved in sleep duration ( p < 0.01; d = 1.02), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ( p < 0.01; d = –1.01), moderate-to-vigorous PA ( p < 0.01; d = 1.32), fruit and vegetable intake ( p < 0.01; d = 3.11), Short-Form-12v2 physical score ( p < 0.01; d = 1.84), and Short-Form-12v2 mental score ( p < 0.01; d = 2.69). The control group showed significant negative change for sleep duration ( p < 0.01; d = –0.47), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ( p < 0.01; d = 0.28), and Short-Form-12v2 mental score ( p < 0.01; d = –0.64). Conclusion Results provide preliminary evidence that a 3-component healthy sleep, eating and PA intervention elicit improvements in health behaviors and perceived subjective health in pilots and may improve quality of life during an unprecedented global pandemic.

Background: The occupational demands of professional airline pilots such as shift work, work schedule irregularities, sleep disruption, fatigue, physical inactivity, and psychological stress may promote adverse outcomes to cardiometabolic health. This review investigates the prevalence of cardiometabolic health risk factors for airline pilots. Methods: An electronic search was conducted utilizing PubMed, MEDLINE (via OvidSP), CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science for publications between 1990 and February 2022. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using two quality assessment tools for cross-sectional and clinical trial studies. The prevalence of physiological, behavioral, and psychological risk factors was reported using descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 48 studies derived from 20 different countries, reviewing a total pooled sample of 36,958 airline pilots. Compared with general population estimates, pilots had a similar prevalence for health risk factors, yet higher sleep duration, lower smoking and obesity rates, less physical activity, and a higher overall rate of body mass index >25. Conclusions: The research reported substantial prevalence >50% for overweight and obesity, insufficient physical activity, elevated fatigue, and regular alcohol intake among pilots. However, the heterogeneity in methodology and the lack of quality and quantity in the current literature limit the strength of conclusions that can be established. Enhanced monitoring and future research are essential to inform aviation health practices and policies (Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022308287).

Objective: To explore the prevalence and distribution of health risk factors in airline pilots and compare these with the general population. Methods: Health risk measures: age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, sleep, physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable intake (FV) were analysed to determine the prevalence and distribution of health risk. Results: Obesity prevalence and BMI was lower in pilots (p=<0.001, −17.5%, d=−0.41, and p=<0.05, −1.8, d=−0.37, respectively), yet overall overweight and obesity prevalence did not differ between groups (p=0.20). No difference was observed between groups for hypertension (p=0.79, h=−0.01), yet a higher proportion of pilots were ‘at risk’ for hypertension (p=<0.001, h=−0.34). The general population had longer sleep duration (p=<0.001, d=0.12), achieved more total PA minutes (p=<0.001, d=0.75), and had a higher prevalence of positive self‐rated health (p=<0.001, h=0.31). More pilots achieved >5 servings of FV daily (p=0.002, h=0.16). Conclusion: Pilots had lower obesity prevalence, higher FV, yet lower positive self‐health ratings and total PA minutes, and shorter sleep duration overall. Implications for public health: The results indicate notable health risk factor prevalence in airline pilots and the general population. Based on present findings, aviation health researchers should further examine targeted, cost‐effective intervention methods for promoting healthy bodyweight, managing blood pressure, and enhancing health behaviours to mitigate the risks of occupational morbidity, medical conditions causing loss of licence, medical incapacity, and to support flight safety.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-component nutrition, sleep, and physical activity (PA) program on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and health behaviors in overweight airline pilots. (2) Methods: A parallel group study was conducted amongst 125 airline pilots. The intervention group participated in a 16-week personalized healthy eating, sleep hygiene, and PA program. Outcome measures of objective health (maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), body mass, skinfolds, girths, blood pressure, resting heart rate, push-ups, plank hold) and self-reported health (weekly PA, sleep quality and duration, fruit and vegetable intake, and self-rated health) were collected at baseline and post-intervention. The wait-list control completed the same assessments. (3) Results: Significant group main effects in favor of the intervention group were found for all outcome measures (p < 0.001) except for weekly walking (p = 0.163). All objective health measures significantly improved in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001, d = 0.41–1.04). Self-report measures (moderate-to-vigorous PA, sleep quality and duration, fruit and vegetable intake, and self-rated health) significantly increased in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001, d = 1.00–2.69). (4) Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that a personalized 16-week healthy eating, PA, and sleep hygiene intervention can elicit significant short-term improvements in physical and mental health outcomes among overweight airline pilots. Further research is required to examine whether the observed effects are maintained longitudinally.

The aim of this study was to perform a 12-month follow-up of health parameters after a 17-week lifestyle intervention in overweight airline pilots. A parallel-group (intervention and control) study was conducted amongst 72 overweight airline pilots (body mass index > 25) over a 12-month period following the emergence of COVID-19. The intervention group (n = 35) received a personalized dietary, sleep, and physical activity program over a 17-week period. The control group (n = 37) received no intervention. Measurements for subjective health (physical activity, sleep quality and quantity, fruit and vegetable intake, and self-rated health) via an electronic survey, and objective measures of body mass and blood pressure were taken at baseline and at 12 months. Significant interactions for group × time from baseline to 12-months were found for all outcome measures (p < 0.001). Body mass and mean arterial pressure significantly decreased in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Outcome measures for subjective health (physical activity, sleep quality and quantity, fruit and vegetable intake, and self-rated health) significantly increased in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Results provide preliminary evidence that a brief three-component healthy sleep, diet and physical activity intervention can elicit and sustain long-term improvements in body mass and blood pressure management, health behaviors, and perceived subjective health in pilots and may support quality of life during an unprecedented global pandemic.

No abstract

No abstract