The study investigates co-occurring PTSD and food addiction in a community sample with results stratified by gender. Data for co-occurring problematic substance use and obesity are also included to allow for within-sample comparison. Participants were asked to complete self-report measures on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), food addiction, problematic substance use (alcohol, cannabis, smoking, and nicotine vaping), and BMI. Participants also completed demographic questions. Pearson zero-order correlation analyses were conducted between primary variables of interest and demographic variables to identify potential sociodemographic covariates. Subjective socioeconomic status (SES) and age were both included as covariates in the current model. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios among food addiction, PTSD, problematic substance use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, smoking, and nicotine vaping) and obesity using Modified Poisson regression with robust standard error estimations. We ran these analyses for the whole same and stratified by gender identity. Food addiction co-occurred with PTSD at comparable or stronger rates than other types of problematic substance use (alcohol, cannabis, smoking, nicotine vaping). Results suggested that this risk may be particularly high for men compared to women. It may be important to assess for food addiction in those with PTSD to assist in identifying high-risk groups.
Hoover, L. V., Yu, H. P., Duval, E. R., & Gearhardt, A. N. (In Press). Investigating gender differences in the Co-occurrence of PTSD and food addiction. Appetite. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.106605.
