Tracey J Smith1, Alan White2, Louise Hadden3, Andrew J Young4, Bernadette P Marriott5. 1. Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA. tracey.smith10.civ@mail.mil. 2. Abt Associates, Inc., Durham, NC, USA. 3. Abt Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA. 4. Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA. 5. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if overweight or obesity is associated with mental health disorder (MHD) symptoms among military personnel Methods: Secondary analysis using the 2005 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey (N = 15,195). Standard Body Mass Index (BMI) categories were used to classify participants' body composition. RESULTS: For women, obesity was associated with symptoms of serious psychological distress (SPD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. For men, obesity and overweight was associated with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and SPD, respectively. Self-reported high personal stress was the strongest predictor of MHD symptoms and suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: Self-reported stress was a stronger predictor of MHD symptoms than BMI. There is potential value in screening personnel for personal stress as a MHD risk factor.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if overweight or obesity is associated with mental health disorder (MHD) symptoms among military personnel Methods: Secondary analysis using the 2005 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey (N = 15,195). Standard Body Mass Index (BMI) categories were used to classify participants' body composition. RESULTS: For women, obesity was associated with symptoms of serious psychological distress (SPD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. For men, obesity and overweight was associated with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and SPD, respectively. Self-reported high personal stress was the strongest predictor of MHD symptoms and suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: Self-reported stress was a stronger predictor of MHD symptoms than BMI. There is potential value in screening personnel for personal stress as a MHD risk factor.
Authors: Christian Avila; Alison C Holloway; Margaret K Hahn; Katherine M Morrison; Maria Restivo; Rebecca Anglin; Valerie H Taylor Journal: Curr Obes Rep Date: 2015-09