Study shows PTSD link to binge eating

Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report a higher number of binge eating symptoms than individuals who were exposed to trauma but did not develop PTSD symptoms, says a study by University of Manitoba researchers published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

“In a large, nationally representative sample of over 34,000 US adults, we found that binge eating was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in both men and women,” said Dr. Joel Braun, a first-year psychiatry resident in the Max Rady College of Medicine who served as lead author. Dr. Natalie Mota, assistant professor of clinical health psychology, is the senior author on the study.

In both men and women, individuals who experienced more PTSD symptoms related to negative thoughts and mood in particular reported a greater number of binge-eating symptoms, the authors found. This association was independent of other mental health conditions.

There are well-known associations between PTSD and several health behaviors such as smoking and increased alcohol use. Much less research to date has focused on the association between PTSD and eating behaviors.

“It is possible that binge eating may serve as a way of coping with the distressing symptoms of PTSD,” said Braun.

The aim of the study was to contribute to existing literature related to the association between PTSD and binge eating and to address limitations in current research, according to Braun and Mota.

“Treatments for PTSD may benefit from including helpful and healthy coping strategies for managing these difficult symptoms such that unhealthy or harmful coping behaviors might be reduced,” Mota said. The researchers also hope that future research examines how binge-eating behavior may affect the physical health of individuals living with PTSD.

“Future research should clarify whether binge eating contributes to the higher rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease observed in those suffering from PTSD,” said Mota.

This research was supported by the B.Sc. (Med.) research program in the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba and by University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Start-up Funds (Drs. Natlalie Mota and Renee El-Gabalawy)

The full study is available online: https://www.psychiatrist.com/JCP/article/Pages/2019/v80/19m12813.aspx

UM TODAY STAFF