Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces
Background/Objectives: Like in the general population, the prevalences of eating- and weight-related health issues in the armed forces are increasing. Relevant medical conditions include the eating disorders (EDs) anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive foo...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/667 |
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| author | Hubertus Himmerich Davide Gravina Inga Schalinski Gerd-Dieter Willmund Peter Lutz Zimmermann Johanna Louise Keeler Janet Treasure |
| author_facet | Hubertus Himmerich Davide Gravina Inga Schalinski Gerd-Dieter Willmund Peter Lutz Zimmermann Johanna Louise Keeler Janet Treasure |
| author_sort | Hubertus Himmerich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Like in the general population, the prevalences of eating- and weight-related health issues in the armed forces are increasing. Relevant medical conditions include the eating disorders (EDs) anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), as well as body dysmorphic disorder, muscle dysmorphia, and the relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) syndrome. Methods: We performed a narrative literature review on eating- and weight-related disorders in the armed forces. Results: Entry standards might exclude people with obesity, with EDs, or at high risk for EDs from entering the armed forces for military reasons and to protect the individual’s health. Relevant potential risk factors of eating- and weight-related disorders in the military are the emphasis on appearance and fitness in the military, high levels of stress, military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, deployment, relocation, long commutes, consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, limitations on food selection and physical exercise, and intensive combat training and field exercises. Eating- and weight-related disorders negatively impact professional military appearance and lead to problems with cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness; daytime sleepiness; and a higher risk of musculoskeletal injuries, and other physical and mental health problems. Current and potential future therapeutic options include occupational health measures, psychosocial therapies, neuromodulation, and drug treatments. Conclusions: Even though randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed to test treatments for obesity in the armed forces, RCTs for the treatment of EDs, body dysmorphic disorder, muscle dysmorphia, and RED-S syndrome are lacking in the military context. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-45ffc7c73a574b5fa8915f1ed5cfb336 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2218-1989 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metabolites |
| spelling | doaj-art-45ffc7c73a574b5fa8915f1ed5cfb3362025-08-20T02:00:35ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892024-12-01141266710.3390/metabo14120667Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed ForcesHubertus Himmerich0Davide Gravina1Inga Schalinski2Gerd-Dieter Willmund3Peter Lutz Zimmermann4Johanna Louise Keeler5Janet Treasure6Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UKCentre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UKDepartment of Human Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, 85579 Neubiberg, GermanyBundeswehr Center for Military Mental Health, Military Hospital Berlin, 10115 Berlin, GermanyBundeswehr Center for Military Mental Health, Military Hospital Berlin, 10115 Berlin, GermanyCentre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UKCentre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UKBackground/Objectives: Like in the general population, the prevalences of eating- and weight-related health issues in the armed forces are increasing. Relevant medical conditions include the eating disorders (EDs) anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), as well as body dysmorphic disorder, muscle dysmorphia, and the relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) syndrome. Methods: We performed a narrative literature review on eating- and weight-related disorders in the armed forces. Results: Entry standards might exclude people with obesity, with EDs, or at high risk for EDs from entering the armed forces for military reasons and to protect the individual’s health. Relevant potential risk factors of eating- and weight-related disorders in the military are the emphasis on appearance and fitness in the military, high levels of stress, military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, deployment, relocation, long commutes, consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, limitations on food selection and physical exercise, and intensive combat training and field exercises. Eating- and weight-related disorders negatively impact professional military appearance and lead to problems with cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness; daytime sleepiness; and a higher risk of musculoskeletal injuries, and other physical and mental health problems. Current and potential future therapeutic options include occupational health measures, psychosocial therapies, neuromodulation, and drug treatments. Conclusions: Even though randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed to test treatments for obesity in the armed forces, RCTs for the treatment of EDs, body dysmorphic disorder, muscle dysmorphia, and RED-S syndrome are lacking in the military context.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/667eating disordersanorexia nervosabulimia nervosabinge eating disordersobesityarmed forces |
| spellingShingle | Hubertus Himmerich Davide Gravina Inga Schalinski Gerd-Dieter Willmund Peter Lutz Zimmermann Johanna Louise Keeler Janet Treasure Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces Metabolites eating disorders anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa binge eating disorders obesity armed forces |
| title | Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces |
| title_full | Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces |
| title_fullStr | Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces |
| title_short | Eating- and Weight-Related Disorders in the Armed Forces |
| title_sort | eating and weight related disorders in the armed forces |
| topic | eating disorders anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa binge eating disorders obesity armed forces |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/667 |
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