Assessment of rates of overweight and obesity and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in a sample of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.

OBJECTIVE

We examined rates of overweight and obesity in a sample of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans setting up routine care within 1 Veterans Affairs medical center and examined associations between weight and measures of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

METHODS

Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to collect data on weight and symptoms of PTSD and depression.

RESULTS

Mean body mass index (=27 kg/m2, SD = 4.47) was within the overweight range. Veterans had rates of overweight that were higher than those of national samples of individuals in the same age group, but had lower rates of obesity. Measures of symptoms of PTSD and depression were not associated with weight.

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of individuals in this group of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans is overweight with rates consistent with the larger active duty population. Overweight was not associated with psychological distress. These data raise concerns for long-term problems with weight in this group of Veterans.