@article{ref1,
title="Childhood exposure to violence is associated with risk for mental disorders and adult's weight status: a community-based study in Tunisia",
journal="Journal of public health (Oxford)",
year="2018",
author="El Mhamdi, Sana and Lemieux, Andrine and Abroug, Hela and Ben Salah, Arwa and Bouanene, Ines and Ben Salem, Kamel and Al'absi, Mustafa",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate the relationship between social violence and adult overweight/obesity and the role of common mental disorders (CMD) in mediating this relationship. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2016 in Tunisia. Participants were selected from randomly selected Primary Health Care Centers. The Arabic version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 2120 participants were included. Women exposed to social ACEs had higher rates of overweight/obesity than men (13.5 versus 9.5%; P = 0.004). For women, statistically significant partial mediation effects of CMD were observed for exposure to community violence (% mediated = 17.7%). For men, partial mediation was found for the exposure to peer violence (% mediated = 12.5%). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence of the independent increase of overweight/obesity after exposure to social ACEs. Efforts to uncover and address underlying trauma in health care settings may increase the effectiveness of obesity interventions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1741-3842",
doi="10.1093/pubmed/fdy149",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdy149"
}