Citation

Vieweg WVR, Julius DA, Fernandez A, Levy JR, Satterwhite L, Benesek J, Feuer SJ, Pandurangi AK. Stress Trauma Crisis 2006; 9(1): 17-28.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15434610500506217

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Military veterans suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often have comorbid conditions including obesity. They may become disabled either from these comorbid conditions or from PTSD (or from both). Service-connected disability (SCD) is a concept employed by both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify and compensate military veterans with such disabilities. SCD could serve as a measure of the functional impact of PTSD and comorbid obesity and other medical conditions. We reviewed the database of the recently constituted PTSD program at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Variables assessed included 1) age, 2) decade of life, 3) height, 4) weight, 5) sex, 6) race, 7) employment status, 8) presence or absence of comorbid psychiatric conditions, 9) presence or absence of comorbid medical conditions, and 10) degree of disability. From the height and weight measurements, we calculated body mass index (BMI). We used SCD to estimate degree of disability in terms of total disability (total SCD) and disability ascribed to PTSD (PTSD-SCD). Results indicated that the mean BMI of the study population was 30.3±5.7 kg/m2. This value was consistent with the current definition of obesity. 83.8% of our study population was either overweight or obese. This rate exceeded the US general population level of 64.5%. SCD and comorbid medical conditions had statistically significant relationships with obesity. Race was almost a statistically significant predictor of obesity. Decade of life, employment status and presence/absence of comorbid psychiatric condition did not separate the obese veteran from the non-obese veteran. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed statistical significant differences in BMI (df = 4, F = 2.921, p = 0.022)among various levels of SCD suggesting a threshold effect. PTSD-related SCD, however, did not have a significant relationship with BMI. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among our sample of veterans with PTSD exceeded current U.S. population rates. Comorbid medical conditions may predispose veterans with PTSD to obesity. SCD had a significant relationship with BMI in that there was a threshold effect in which 30% or greater SCD identified veterans with obesity. The cross-sectional nature of the study and the absence of control populations limit the conclusions that may be drawn from our study. Clearly, more definitive studies are needed with much larger study populations.