Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Predicts Future Weight Change in the Millennium Cohort Study

Objective To prospectively examine the association between post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD and weight change. Methods Longitudinal analysis techniques were used to examine data 2001-2008 from Millennium Cohort Study participants, consisting of U.S. service members and veterans. Using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, PTSD was assessed as none, resolved, new onset, or persistent. Subsequent weight change was assessed as stable 3 loss or gain, 3 weight loss, 3 but 10 weight gain, and 10 weight gain. Results Of the 38,352 participants, 2391 6.2 had PTSD 838 resolved, 1024 new onset, and 529 persistent, and 11 of participants subsequently had 10 weight gain. In multivariable models, PTSD was associated with higher odds of 10 weight gain new onset OR 1.44 95 CI 1.20-1.73 persistent OR 1.51 CI 1.17-1.96 resolved OR 1.30 CI 1.05-1.60 compared with those without PTSD. New-onset and persistent PTSD were also associated with higher odds of 3 weight loss OR 1.41 CI 1.17-1.71 OR 1.42 CI 1.09-1.86, respectively. Conclusions PTSD is independently associated with a higher risk of weight gain and loss, the former of which leads to a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity and a higher risk of comorbidities associated with excessive body adiposity.