Diet quality and exercise in older veterans with PTSD: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Older veterans with PTSD face higher risks of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases.
• Healthy lifestyle behaviors like physical activity and diet are crucial for aging well but are understudied in this population.
• The relationship between PTSD and diet quality in older veterans remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diet quality of older veterans with PTSD against U.S. dietary guidelines.
• To investigate whether a supervised exercise intervention influences dietary behavior changes concurrently.

Main Methods:

• A secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial involving 54 veterans (≥ 60 years) with PTSD.
• Diet quality was measured using the Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ) at baseline and 12 weeks.
• Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of supervised exercise or usual care.

Main Results:

• Veterans exceeded recommendations for added sugar intake and fell short on whole grains, fruits/vegetables/legumes, fiber, calcium, and dairy.
• The supervised exercise intervention did not lead to significant improvements in diet quality.
• Dietary patterns remained suboptimal despite the exercise program.

Conclusions:

• Older veterans with PTSD exhibit poor diet quality, highlighting a significant public health concern.
• Exercise interventions alone do not appear to improve dietary habits in this demographic.
• Combined diet and exercise interventions or diet-focused programs are necessary to mitigate health risks in this population.