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.