This just in: PTSD also makes you fat

A study led by Pia Heppner, Ph.D., psychologist with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs of San Diego, VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), has found that veterans with PTSD are more likely to also meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome, a currently controversial diagnosis that includes elevated BP, higher waist-to-hip ratios and high fasting concentrations of HDLs, glucose and triglycerides. Metabolic syndrome is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, otherwise known as the diseases fat people get.

So that explains it. HA!

In their press release, researchers concluded:

“Our research indicates that stress and post-stress responses are related to long-term health outcomes,” said Heppner. Studies show that veterans, prisoners of war and individuals exposed to severe trauma have higher rates of disease and increased use of health care, she continued. “Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome provides a useful framework for assessing and describing the physical burden of PTSD and can be used prospectively to evaluate health risk that may be associated with combat exposure and PTSD.”

If they can’t kill you one way, they’ll try another. Sometimes it seems there is no respite anywhere.