Background: This presentation will explore the frequency of eating disorders in the military, how military service impacts development of eating disorders, and the relationship of military traumas and eating disorders. There will be discussion on how to effectively work with the unique factors of this population and resources available to professionals. Participants will be able to identify unique service-related risk factors to the development of eating disorders, describe the relationship of military-related traumas and eating disorders, and identify resources specifically for service members.
Objectives: Identify unique service-related risk factors to the development of eating disorders.
Describe the relationship of military-related traumas and eating disorders.
Identify resources specifically for service members.
1. What is the prevalence of eating disorders in the military?
A. Higher rates than the general population
B. Nine year review of eating disorders in the military (Antczak and Brininger, 2008)
i. estimated eating disorders among U.S. service members is at 10%
C. Military population is understudied
D. Eating disorders can be more secretive in the military
E. Eating disorders in the military could be subthreshold
2. What factors leave this population more at risk for developing eating disorders?
A. Subjected to high physical fitness requirements
B. Weight restrictions
C. Pressure to improve performance
D. Weigh-ins and PT test are times of high pressure
E. Acceptable BMI for marine recruits is about 23
F. Weight standards must be met every 6 months
G. Possible that individuals who are vulnerable to developing an eating disorder
are drawn to military due to strict physical standards
H. Increased risk for sexual assault in the service
I. Exposure to combat trauma
J. In veterans, habits that develop during service that lead to eating disorders.
K. Gender-based violence
3. What are some of the comorbidities for this population?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder (both combat and military sexual trauma)
B. Females with military sexual trauma are significantly more likely to report binging,
purging, overexercising than females with no military sexual trauma
4. What is the relationship between military-related trauma and eating disorders?
A. Women’s experiences in war were not widely understood or recognized upon return to
the U.S.
B. Women also cope with the threat of gender-based violence
C. Eating disorders may share common etiologic mechanisms with PTSD
D. Deployed women reporting combat exposures were 1.78 times more likely to report
new-onset disordered eating
E. Deployed men with combat exposures are more likely to gain a moderate or extreme
amount of weight
5. What treatments or resources are available?
A. Eating disorders are difficult to treat and can be more so in the military.
B. CBT-E
C. Psychopharmacology options are limited, especially in the service.
D. Military cultural competency
E. Military One Source
F. Camradie Foundation
I received a BA in psychology from Hastings College in Hastings, NE and a MEd in professional school counseling at University of North Carolina at Pembroke. I have been a therapist for six years with experience in private practice and in a hospital system. I have a special interest in equine-assisted therapy and other interactive or experiential approaches.
