Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Eating Disorder Behaviors in Active Duty Service Women in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines

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Abstract
Eating disorders continue to be studied among civilian women. Gross disturbances in eating behaviors characterize the condition of anorexia nervosa (AN), currently seen among 1 to 2% of non-active duty women. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is prevalent among 2% of the female population, and both disorders have a female-to-male ratios of 10:1. Another category of eating disorders known as not otherwise specified (NOS) occurs in 3 to 35% of individuals in the reported literature. This study examined the prevalence of AN, BN, and NOS among a large sample of active duty women currently serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Multiple military, professional, and behavioral variables were analyzed to provide an increased understanding and awareness of these disorders among all active duty service women. This descriptive, correlational study of 3,613 service women targeted females from the total population of three major medical centers (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and the total population of Marine women serving in Okinawa, Japan, at the time of the study. Anonymous survey return was obtained at 34% (N = 1,278). The study revealed an overall prevalence of 1.1% for AN, 8.1% for BN, and 62.8% for NOS among all service women. However, AN, BN, and NOS were found at significantly higher rates (p = 0.000) among women in the Marines, who reported AN at 4.9%, BN at 15.9%, and NOS at 76.7%. Use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, vomiting, and fasting for standards increased during the body measurement and fitness periods for all services, but year-round use of many of these behaviors occurred at significantly higher rates among Marines (p = 0.000). Multiple logistic regression analysis predicted several factors associated with the manifestation of eating disorders in this population of active duty women.

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