title: Veterans with PTSD report more weight loss barriers than Veterans with no mental health disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study characterized and compared Veterans of the United States Armed Forces with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to Veterans with no mental health disorders on self-reported measures of factors that influence success in weight management programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the relation of PTSD diagnosis with weight loss plan, reasons for overweight/obesity and barriers to dieting and physical exercise among 171,884 Veterans. Statistically significant variables in chi-square tests (P<.05) with at least a small effect size were then compared via multivariate logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups reported high ratings of importance and confidence regarding changing weight loss behaviors and were preparing or actively engaging in efforts to manage their weight. Compared to Veterans without mental health disorders, more Veterans with PTSD endorsed 27 of the 28 barriers to changing eating and physical habits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study help to explain the lower rates of success of Veterans with PTSD in weight loss programs. Results suggest that a comprehensive, integrated approach to promoting weight loss in Veterans with PTSD is needed.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Capitol Healthcare Network Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, 10 North Greene Street, Annex Suite 720, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, 737 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: elizabeth.klingaman@va.gov.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Klingaman
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Service, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle Division, 1660 South Columbian Way (S-116), Seattle, WA 98108, USA; University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 356560, Room BB1644, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: Katherine.hoerster@va.gov.
authors.forename: Katherine D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hoerster
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Capitol Healthcare Network Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, 10 North Greene Street, Annex Suite 720, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, 737 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: jennifer.aakre@va.gov.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aakre
authors.affiliation: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Health Services Research and Development Service, Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, North Little Rock, AR 72114, USA; Division of Health Services Research, Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, #554, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Electronic address: Kristen.viverito@va.gov.
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Viverito
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, 737 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Capitol Healthcare Network Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, 10 North Greene Street, Annex Suite 720, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: dmedoff@psych.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Medoff
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Capitol Healthcare Network Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, 10 North Greene Street, Annex Suite 720, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, 737 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: richard.goldberg@va.gov.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: MOVE!; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Veterans; Weight management