Male and Female Veterans' Preferences for Eating Disorders Screening

Abstract: Eating disorders (EDs) are severe and costly mental illnesses that impact men and women of all ages. EDs are prevalent among veterans and affect as many as 9% of male veterans and 19% of female vetearns. Early detection can help mitigate high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with EDs; identifying factors that increase the likelihood that patient will disclose ED symptoms is essential. Individuals with EDs often experience elevated shame, which may affect willingness to disclose. Among patients who do not spontaneously disclose, many reveal eating problems when they are specifically queried by a healthcare professional. It is unknown whether this finding will extend to military veterans, as mental health screening within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has focused on service-related conditions. We compared preferences for ED screening between male and female veterans and veterans with and without probable EDs. We hypothesized that the majority of veterans would find ED screening acceptable and that provider knowledge and support would increase the likelihood of disclosure.