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01-12-2017 | Original Article

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Problematic Overeating Behaviors in Young Men and Women

Authors: Susan M. Mason, PhD, MPH, Patricia A. Frazier, PhD, S. Bryn Austin, ScD, MS, Bernard L. Harlow, PhD, Benita Jackson, PhD, MPH, Nancy C. Raymond, MD, Janet W. Rich-Edwards, ScD, MPH

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 6/2017

Abstract

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a risk factor for obesity, but the range of behaviors that contribute to this association are not known.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between self-reported PTSD symptoms in 2007, with and without comorbid depression symptoms, and three problematic overeating behaviors in 2010, and to estimate the associations of PTSD-related overeating behaviors with obesity.

Methods

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses included 7438 male (n = 2478) and female (n = 4960) participants from the Growing Up Today Study (mean age 22–29 years in 2010). Three eating behavior outcomes were assessed: binge eating (eating a large amount of food in a short period of time with loss of control), top quartile of coping-motivated eating (from the Motivations to Eat scale), and top quartile of disinhibited eating (from the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire).

Results

PTSD symptoms were associated with two- to threefold increases in binge eating and top-quartile coping-motivated eating; having ≥4 PTSD symptoms, relative to no PTSD symptoms, was associated with covariate-adjusted RRs of 2.7 (95% CI 2.1, 3.4) for binge eating, 2.1 (95% CI 1.9, 2.4) for the top quartile of coping-motivated eating, and 1.5 (95% CI 1.3, 1.7) for the top quartile of disinhibited eating. There was a trend toward PTSD symptoms in 2007 predicting new onset binge eating in 2010. Having depression symptoms comorbid with PTSD symptoms further increased risk of binge eating and coping-motivated eating. All eating behaviors were associated with obesity.

Conclusion

Clinicians treating patients with PTSD should know of potential comorbid problematic eating behaviors that may contribute to obesity.

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Title: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Problematic Overeating Behaviors in Young Men and Women
Authors: Susan M. Mason, PhD, MPH
Patricia A. Frazier, PhD
S. Bryn Austin, ScD, MS
Bernard L. Harlow, PhD
Benita Jackson, PhD, MPH
Nancy C. Raymond, MD
Janet W. Rich-Edwards, ScD, MPH
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 6/2017
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-017-9905-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Problematic Overeating Behaviors in Young Men and Women

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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