Veterans binge eating is serious problem

We at the VA have an urgent imperative to address suicide, PTSD, and opioid addiction among our veterans. The study of overweight and eating behavior in no way diminishes these initiatives. Being overweight is an American problem affecting 68 percent of the population, but an even greater veteran problem affecting close to 80 percent of those utilizing the VA Healthcare System.

It is difficult to understand why we are studying “binge eating” to address this, “Grant to aid in research of binge eating among veterans,” (Sept. 27) . Most people can relate to going overboard at Thanksgiving or with a family size bag of chips. Consistent binge eating, though, is an entirely different story. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a new psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). People with BED, and even those who just regularly binge eat, are more likely to have medical and mental health problems such as depression and diabetes, and have trouble maintaining and losing weight.

A 2015 study showed that Veterans with BED had almost twice the amount of healthcare costs. We hope that addressing binge eating has the potential to improve the lives of our veterans and reduce medical costs. Robin M. Masheb, Ph.D. Director, Veterans Initiative for Eating and Weight New Haven