Eating Disorders Within the Military
Military Disordered Eating Statistics Higher than Civilian Stats
Jul 29, 2009
The military appears to be an environment where eating disorders are more likely to develop, apparently due to the severe pressures of attaining and maintaining peak, athletic, physical condition marked with regular weigh-ins. Women, particularly, must meet the physical and performance standards that are equivalent to the standards for the male population of soldiers.
However, because the available food sources may not have the best nutritional value, yet are high in calories, depending upon an array of variables, this factor alone puts significant pressure upon women and men to manipulate their caloric intake and not necessarily in the most health wise of choices.
Eating Disorders and Women in the Military
A one year study of women within the military, conducted by a team of professionals lead by Tamara D. Lauder, MD, revealed the following from 423 women certified to be involved in active duty in the Army:
- About one-third of the 423 presented to be at risk for disordered eating;
- Out of 108 interviewed women, about one-third of them were diagnosed with disordered eating;
- "3% had anorexia nervosa;
- "9% had bulimia nervosa";
- About one-third had an NOS status (not otherwise specified) eating disorder;
- "15% had binge eating disorder"; and,
- A little over one-third had a condition labeled, "situational eating disorder".
Eating Disorders and Men in the Military
About one-third of the original 4,800 assigned to active duty Navy men, from a variety of assignments or locations, showed the following results from de-identifed surveys:
- "2.5% were declared to be anorexic;
- "6.8% were declared to be bulimic;
- "40.8% were declared to have an eating disorder of NOS" (not otherwise specified).
Anorexia and bulimia appeared apparently without heed to any determination of age, military rank or occupational status. Extreme regimens consisting of the use of "laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, vomiting and fasting", presented during times of accountability, but, continued with significant numbers through out the year (Cat.inist.fr).
Eating Disorders Within Military Families
Though there wasn't a total amount given for the numbers of female children and wives of service men, who participated in the study touting the outcome, these numbers are interesting:
- "21% of the teenagers from military families met the criteria for disordered eating; and,
- "26% of military wives met the criteria for disordered eating".
In another study where an eating aptitude test (survey) was administered to three hundred forty adolescents and, it seems, the corresponding parental pairs, just a tad over one-fourth of the adolescents met disordered eating criteria with links to parents-at-risk and their teenage daughters (Ingentaconnect.com).
Disturbing Study Results
More than one study, as mentioned, has shown that the rates of disordered eating amongst active duty men and women in the military are considerably higher than civilian statistics for disordered eating, as well as the statistics for "at risk for disordered eating" for military families (Ingentaconnect.com).
Additional Eating Disorder Articles
Eating Disorders and the Workplace
Note to the reader: If any of this information causes concern, please contact the primary care physician, or a licensed, trained professional. The U.S. armed forces may contact their local Veterans' Centers for further information or help.
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