Childhood adverse life events, disordered eating, and body mass index in US Military service members

Bakalar, Jennifer L.; Barmine, Marissa; Druskin, Lindsay; Olsen, Cara; Quinlan, Jeffrey D.; Sbrocco, Tracy; Tanofsky‐Kraff, Marian

doi:10.1002/eat.22851

Cited by 17 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The findings in this review support the extensive literature on the relationship of adverse childhood experiences and MST with EDs and DE in addition to other traumas such as verbal abuse and weight harassment (Arditte Hall et al, 2018; Bakalar et al, 2018; Blais et al, 2017; Breland, Donalson, Li, et al, 2018; Cuthbert et al, 2020; Donaldson, 2016; Forman‐Hoffman et al, 2012; Guillaume et al, 2016; Hasan et al, 2019; McNulty, 2001; Warner et al, 2007). Other forms of trauma more specific to the military that were related included the loss of fellow servicemembers, acting against one's morals, and enduring IPV (Arditte Hall et al, 2017; Bartlett et al, 2018; Creech et al, 2021; Huston et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Deployment, in general, was not related to new ED onset (Jacobson et al, 2009). Adverse life events, including childhood trauma, adult sexual assault, and verbal abuse, were associated with DE, as was military sexual trauma (MST; Arditte Hall et al, 2018; Bakalar et al, 2018; Berg & Moore, 1996; Blais et al, 2017; Breland, Donalson, Li, et al, 2018; Donaldson, 2016; Forman‐Hoffman et al, 2012; Warner et al, 2007). Qualitative research on female veterans found that DE can be related to trauma and used to prevent unwanted attention and cope short‐term (Breland, Donalson, Li, et al, 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Eating disorders and disordered eating in servicemen and women: A narrative review

Gaviria

Ammerman

2022

J Clin Psychol

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Objective Eating disorders (EDs) are mental illnesses impacting all aspects of an individual's life. Recent research has examined EDs and disordered‐eating behaviors in the military, a population subject to body composition standards, fitness requirements, and extreme stress. The purpose of this narrative review was to investigate ED and disordered‐eating prevalence and their risk factors in ROTC (reserve officers’ training corps), active‐duty, and veteran servicemembers. The secondary purpose was to provide policy recommendations to reduce the burden of these conditions in the military. Methods PubMed and PsycINFO were reviewed for relevant articles. All studies including data on EDs or disordered eating in U.S. active‐duty, ROTC, or veteran populations were considered. Results Results revealed a high burden of EDs and disordered eating with bulimic‐ and binge‐type behaviors being the most common. Servicemembers exposed to trauma, including military sexual assault, and those with comorbidities like PTSD showed a higher prevalence. Body composition and fitness testing were also associated with a higher risk. Qualitative studies suggest these conditions serve as coping mechanisms for aspects of military life. Conclusions The high prevalence of EDs and disordered eating in the military points toward the importance of identification, treatment, and prevention. Policy change is necessary to protect servicemembers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating disorders and disordered eating in servicemen and women: A narrative review

Gaviria

Ammerman

2022

J Clin Psychol

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“…The mean ± SD and median±interquartile range (IQR) LSC-R scores were 9.6±11 and 6.0±8.0, respectively, and the range was 0–96. These scores are higher than those reported by a sample of 179 active-duty U.S. military service members (4.5±5.7, range: 0–35) (Bakalar et al. 2018), but lower than a clinical sample of new mothers enrolled in substance-abuse treatment program (n=21, 45.1±24.4, range: 17–104) and their demographically matched controls (n=27, 19.6±11.2, range: 2–58) (Goldman Fraser et al.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 62%

Prenatal Exposure to PM2.5 and Cardiac Vagal Tone during Infancy: Findings from a Multiethnic Birth Cohort

Cowell

Brunst

Malin

et al. 2019

Environ Health Perspect

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Background:The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis and responding to external stimuli. In adults, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been associated with reduced heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of cardiac autonomic control.Objectives:Our goal was to investigate the associations of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with HRV as an indicator of cardiac autonomic control during early development.Methods:We studied 237 maternal–infant pairs in a Boston-based birth cohort. We estimated daily residential PM2.5 using satellite data in combination with land-use regression predictors. In infants at 6 months of age, we measured parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity using continuous electrocardiogram monitoring during the Repeated Still-Face Paradigm, an experimental protocol designed to elicit autonomic reactivity in response to maternal interaction and disengagement. We used multivariable linear regression to examine average PM2.5 exposure across pregnancy in relation to PNS withdrawal and activation, indexed by changes in respiration-corrected respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSAnormalc)—an established metric of HRV that reflects cardiac vagal tone. We examined interactions with infant sex using cross-product terms.Results:In adjusted models we found that a 1-unit increase in PM2.5 (in micrograms per cubic meter) was associated with a 3.53% decrease in baseline RSAnormalc (95% CI: −6.96, 0.02). In models examining RSAnormalc change between episodes, higher PM2.5 was generally associated with reduced PNS withdrawal during stress and reduced PNS activation during recovery; however, these associations were not statistically significant. We did not observe a significant interaction between PM2.5 and sex.Discussion:Prenatal exposure to PM2.5 may disrupt cardiac vagal tone during infancy. Future research is needed to replicate these preliminary findings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4434

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“…Another important factor which seems to support the assumption that men who work in dangerous professions are likely to employ fast LH strategies is the high morbidity-mortality rate among soldiers and firefighters. Specifically, soldiers are found to be at increased risk of developing depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Grieger et al 2006 ; Hoge et al 2008 ), and obesity (Bakalar et al 2018 ), which can noticeably and negatively affect life expectancy and quality of life in general. In the context of more proximate risk factors, military physical training causes a larger number of injuries (Smith and Cashman 2002 ), to say nothing of dangerous combat exposure (Grieger et al 2006 ; Hoge et al 2008 ).…”

Section: Life History Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Criminals Live Faster Than Soldiers and Firefighters?

Kwiek

Piotrowski

2020

Hum Nat

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A high risk of morbidity-mortality caused by a harsh and unpredictable environment is considered to be associated with a fast life history (LH) strategy, commonly linked with criminal behavior. However, offenders are not the only group with a high exposure to extrinsic morbidity-mortality. In the present study, we investigated the LH strategies employed by two groups of Polish men: incarcerated offenders (N = 84) as well as soldiers and firefighters (N = 117), whose professions involve an elevated risk of injury and premature death. The subjects were asked to complete the Mini-K (used as a psychosocial LH indicator) and a questionnaire which included a number of biodemographic LH variables. Although biodemographic and psychosocial LH indicators should be closely linked with each other, the actual connection between them is unclear. Thus, this study was driven by two aims: comparing LH strategies in two groups of men with a high risk of premature morbidity-mortality and investigating the relationship between the biodemographic and psychosocial LH dimensions. The study showed that incarcerated men employed faster LH strategies than soldiers and firefighters, but only in relation to biodemographic variables (e.g., number of siblings, age of sexual initiation, life expectancy). No intergroup differences emerged regarding psychosocial LH indicators. Moreover, the correlation analysis showed a weak association between biodemographic and psychosocial LH indicators. The results strengthen the legitimacy of incorporating biodemographic LH traits into research models and indicate the need for further research on the accuracy of the Mini-K. The possible explanations for the intergroup differences in LH strategies are discussed.

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Childhood adverse life events, disordered eating, and body mass index in US Military service members

Abstract: Findings support evaluating childhood ALE exposure among service members with disordered eating and weight concerns. Moreover, findings support the need for prospective research to elucidate these relationships.

Cited by 17 publications

References 23 publications

Eating disorders and disordered eating in servicemen and women: A narrative review

Eating disorders and disordered eating in servicemen and women: A narrative review

Prenatal Exposure to PM2.5 and Cardiac Vagal Tone during Infancy: Findings from a Multiethnic Birth Cohort

Do Criminals Live Faster Than Soldiers and Firefighters?

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