title: Mental health and somatic symptom severity are associated with reduced physical activity among US Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ensuring that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans engage in adequate physical activity is essential to prevent metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and promote psychological well-being. Identifying factors associated with physical activity in this population will yield areas for targeted interventions aimed at increasing activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlates of meeting physical activity recommendations (≥ 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) were examined in Iraq/Afghanistan veterans assessed at intake to VA Puget Sound Healthcare System's post-deployment health clinic (May, 2005-August, 2009; N=266).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority were male (94.3%) and Caucasian (70.7%), with an average age of 29.8 (SD=7.3) years. Participants engaged in a median of 180 weekly MVPA minutes. Among those meeting (59%) and not meeting (41%) recommendations, median weekly MVPA minutes were 540 and 0, respectively. In multivariate regression models, higher levels of depression (p=.042) and somatic (p=.018) symptom severity were associated with significantly decreased odds of meeting physical activity recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, physical activity engagement among Iraq/Afghanistan veteran VA patients was above the level specified in national recommendations. Those with higher depressive and somatic symptoms were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations and may benefit from targeted physical activity promotion interventions.
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle Division, Research and Development Service: 1660S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. Katherine.Hoerster@va.gov
authors.forename: Katherine D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hoerster
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakupcak
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McFall
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unützer
authors.forename: Karin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data