Examining associations between disordered eating and harmful substance use in a nationally representative sample of US veterans.
Yiyang ChenKara Alise ChristensenKelsie T ForbushMarianna L ThomeczekSonakshi NegiAlesha E DoanAlicia M WendlerR William MorganSamiya I RasheedSarah N JohnsonAnjali R SharmaPublished in: The International journal of eating disorders (2024)
The current study found that veteran women had higher bulimic symptoms (characterized by binge eating and purging) and restricting than veteran men. In women, bulimic symptoms predicted future harmful use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. In contrast, veteran men had higher weight-and-body-related concerns (characterized by excessive exercise and muscle building) than veteran women. In men, restricting symptoms predicted future harmful use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs.