Development of a Military-Specific Transdiagnostic Eating-Disorder Survey and Screening Tool in a Nationally Representative Sample of Veterans

Active military face a wide range of dangers on the battlefield, and the risks of post-traumatic stress are well-documented. However, the constant pressure to meet fitness standards, physical requirements to enlist and expectation for leaders to maintain fitness levels as role models all can lead to eating disorders. This project has developed a screening known as the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory, shown to comprehensively measure disordered eating in both men and women.

This project will work to adapt the screening to identify veterans who may have eating, mood, anxiety or trauma disorder. A nationally representative sample of 1,000 men and women discharged from the military within one year will take the screening at four time points. The reliability and validity will be tested, and a shorter form will be developed and tested with a second sample of 400 veterans to determine if the screening can accurately identify cases of eating, mood, anxiety or trauma disorder.