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A case-control study among Singapore Armed Forces' newly enlisted Servicemen was conducted to examine factors associated with male obesity. Four hundred and fifty-nine individuals from the Obese Basic Military Training program were selected as "cases" (average age: 19.5, body mass index: 30.4) and another 340 individuals were selected from the Normal Basic Military Training program as "controls" (average age: 19.3, body mass index: 21.4). Information such as family background, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle practices were captured using facilitator-led questionnaires. Several variables were significantly associated with obesity after adjustments for possible confounders. These include childhood obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.06), less than an hour of exercise per day (OR = 2.97), Indian ethnicity (OR = 2.22), specific education backgrounds (especially that of Institute of Technical Education-OR = 2.75), father's employment at nonmanagerial/professional jobs (OR = 1.52), mother's employment at managerial/professional jobs (OR = 2.02), regular smoking (OR = 1.73) and alcohol consumption (OR = 2.26), 6 hours or less of sleep (OR = 3.73), obesity among family members (OR = 1.86 for mother; OR = 2.98 for siblings), parental history of diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.22 for father; OR = 2.70 for mother), and eating at inexpensive local food stalls (OR = 1.82). Our study found that a number of factors, ranging from personal and family backgrounds to lifestyle choices, were significantly associated with obesity among male youths.

Background: Hypohidrosis is a risk factor for developing heat-related illnesses. Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypohidrosis in heat injury. Methods: Soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces who developed heat injury between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013 were invited to participate in the study. Subjects were induced to sweat through exercising in a temperature- and humidity-regulated room, and then atomized starch-iodine powder was administered over their whole body to detect hypohidrosis. If this was found to be present, investigations to elucidate the cause of anhidrosis were performed. Results: Out of 65 males, 30 consented to participation. One was excluded because an exogenous cause resulted in heat injury. Nine (31%) demonstrated hypohidrosis. Of these, 1 (11%) had miliaria profunda, 2 (22%) had acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis and 6 (67%) manifested a new phenotype which we termed acquired symmetrical hypohidrosis (ASH). Conclusion: Thirty-one percent of healthy soldiers who developed heat injury had hypohidrosis. Concurrently, a new clinical phenotype of ASH was identified.

These findings provide objective evidence for selecting the most effective cooling system of those we evaluated for cooling individuals with exercise-induced hyperthermia. Nevertheless, factors other than cooling efficacy need to be considered when selecting an appropriate cooling system.

BackgroundGeneralized ligamentous laxity has been implicated with musculoskeletal injuries. Little evidence has emerged from the Asia-Pacific regarding the epidemiology of generalized ligamentous laxity.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to determine if generalized ligamentous laxity may be a predisposing factor for musculoskeletal injuries in young males. We hypothesized that generalized ligamentous laxity would be more common in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries compared with controls.DesignProspective case-control study.SettingMilitary.ParticipantsAll participants were male Singaporeans who were serving their National Service in the same military institute. The cases comprised of 100 consecutive individuals who presented to the primary healthcare centre in the institute with musculoskeletal injuries involving the upper or lower extremities that occurred as a result of physical activity. Our control group comprised of 100 age- and gender-matched individuals but did not have any musculoskeletal symptoms or injury for a period of 3 months or more from the time of recruitment.Assessment of risk factorsDemographic data were gathered using a questionnaire. The surveyed factors include personal history, smoking history and sporting activity as well as the baseline demographic and anthropometric data.Main outcome measurementsThe Beighton score was used to measure laxity, which was determined to be present by overall scores equal to or exceeding 4.ResultsGeneralized ligamentous laxity was present in 12% of the cases compared with 4% of controls (P=.043). Individuals who presented with musculoskeletal injuries were 3.35 times more likely to have generalized ligamentous laxity as compared to controls. Lower limb injuries were more common than upper limb injuries amongst the cases.ConclusionsGeneralized ligamentous laxity was more common in individuals who presented with a musculoskeletal injury. It may be a predisposing factor for musculoskeletal injuries. Prehabilitation may be an important aspect of training that should be emphasized to individuals identified to have generalized ligamentous laxity.