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

Abstract

Background PTSD is a risk factor for obesity, but the range of behaviors that contribute to this association are not known. Purpose To examine associations between self-reported PTSD symptoms in 2007, with and without comorbid depression symptoms, and three problematic overeating behaviors in 2010; 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 2- to 3-fold 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.

Validity and reliability of the kiddie schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia present and lifetime version DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL-5) Spanish version

“…The relationship between anxiety disorders and BED has been demonstrated in adolescent clinical samples [ 30 ]. Previous evidence mentions stressful life events in early childhood as predictors of PD and SPH [ 31 ] and to be associated with BED [ 32 ]; a history of symptoms of PTSD also predict the later onset of binges [ 33 ]. Essentially, the evidence shows that stress life events may represent the main axis of the SHF.…”

Early maturational emergence of adult-like emotional reactivity and anxiety after brief exposure to an obesogenic diet

“…Early-life trauma is linked to obesity and the consumption of obesogenic diets (Duncan et al, 2015;Ehlert, 2013;Farr et al, 2015;Masodkar et al, 2016;Mason et al, 2017;Pagoto et al, 2012;Perkonigg et al, 2009;Roenholt et al, 2012;Wolf et al, 2017). The high co-morbidity between obesity and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) suggest that adaptations to trauma may increase the risk for the consumption of obesogenic diets as a result of the traumatic experience (Godfrey et al, 2018;Kalyan-Masih et al, 2016;Michopoulos et al, 2016).…”

Developmental regulation of fear memories by an obesogenic high-saturated fat/high-sugar diet

“…Early-life trauma is increasingly linked to obesity and the consumption of obesogenic diets (Duncan et al, 2015;Ehlert, 2013;Farr et al, 2015;Masodkar et al, 2016;Mason et al, 2017;Pagoto et al, 2012;Perkonigg et al, 2009;Roenholt et al, 2012;Wolf et al, 2017). The high co-morbidity between obesity and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) suggest that adaptations to trauma may increase the risk for the consumption of obesogenic diets as a result of the traumatic experience (Godfrey et al, 2018;Kalyan-Masih et al, 2016;Michopoulos et al, 2016).…”