title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Psychology Service, 950 Campbell Avenue, 116B, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pietrzak
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult