Does body mass index moderate the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation in Iraq/Afghanistan veterans?

• Obesity, PTSD, and suicidal ideation are significant problems among veterans.
• Both PTSD and obesity can increase suicidal ideation, and thus, risk for suicide.
• In the current study, BMI moderates the relationship between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation.
• These findings suggest a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to suicide prevention.

Suicide, PTSD, and obesity co-occur at high rates among returning veterans, yet limited research exists regarding the relationship among these variables. Self-report and diagnostic interview data from a longitudinal study of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (N=130) enrolled in VA healthcare examined these inter-relations. As hypothesized, body mass index (BMI) significantly moderated the association between PTSD and suicidal ideation such that the association between PTSD and suicidal ideation was strongest among individuals with a high BMI. Programs that focus on health promotion, trauma treatment, and weight management should continue to monitor suicide risk.