Prospective analyses of disordered eating and weight changes after military deployment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Background: Whether military deployments and combat exposure affect disordered eating behaviors and weight changes is not known. The objective of this study was to describe new-onset eating disorders and weight changes in a large, population-based military cohort, and to compare these characteristics between those who deployed with and without experiencing combat exposures, and those not deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Methods: Baseline survey data from enrollment in the Millennium Cohort (July 2001 to June 2003) were obtained before the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Complete follow-up (June 2004 to February 2006) data were collected from 48,378 participants. New-onset disordered eating measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire and weight change based on self-reported weight at baseline and follow-up were the main outcomes investigated in this analysis.

Results: Overall, deployment was not significantly associated with new-onset disordered eating in women or men, after adjustment for baseline demographic, military, and behavioral characteristics. However, among women, those reporting combat exposures during deployment were 1.78 times more likely to develop new-onset disordered eating (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-3.11) and 2.35 times more likely to lose an extreme amount of weight (10% or more of their body weight) compared with women who deployed but did not experience combat exposures (95% CI, 1.17-4.70).

Conclusions: Despite no significant overall association between deployment and disordered eating and extreme weight changes, deployed women with combat exposures represent a special subgroup at significantly higher risk of developing eating problems and extreme weight loss.