Childhood Maltreatment and Body Mass Index in Older Adults With Chronic Illness

BackgroundChildhood trauma has been associated with greater psychological and physical morbidity, including a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Emotional dysregulation and increased body mass index (BMI) may be involved. This study evaluated whether (1) childhood maltreatment is associated with higher BMI at study onset and with greater increases in BMI 5 years later among older adults with CAD or other chronic illnesses; (2) sex and/or CAD status moderate these results; and (3) baseline symptoms of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress (emotional dysregulation) mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and BMI at follow-up.MethodsA total of 1232 men and women (aged 60.86 [6.95] years) completed validated questionnaires on childhood maltreatment and symptoms of psychological distress. Weight in kilograms and participant's height were collected, and the participant's BMI was calculated using the ratio of weight (kg)/height (m2).ResultsChildhood maltreatment was not significantly associated with BMI at study onset nor at follow-up. This relation did not differ as a function of sex nor CAD status. While childhood maltreatment was associated with significantly greater psychological distress at study onset (all ps<.001), the latter was not found to mediate this relation at follow-up.ConclusionIn contrast to previous literature, childhood maltreatment was not associated with BMI nor with change in BMI over five years in men and women suffering from chronic disease. However, since psychological distress increases risk for morbidity and mortality, it may represent an important target for prevention and intervention in survivors of childhood maltreatment. Childhood trauma has been associated with greater psychological and physical morbidity, including a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Emotional dysregulation and increased body mass index (BMI) may be involved. This study evaluated whether (1) childhood maltreatment is associated with higher BMI at study onset and with greater increases in BMI 5 years later among older adults with CAD or other chronic illnesses; (2) sex and/or CAD status moderate these results; and (3) baseline symptoms of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress (emotional dysregulation) mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and BMI at follow-up. A total of 1232 men and women (aged 60.86 [6.95] years) completed validated questionnaires on childhood maltreatment and symptoms of psychological distress. Weight in kilograms and participant's height were collected, and the participant's BMI was calculated using the ratio of weight (kg)/height (m2). Childhood maltreatment was not significantly associated with BMI at study onset nor at follow-up. This relation did not differ as a function of sex nor CAD status. While childhood maltreatment was associated with significantly greater psychological distress at study onset (all ps<.001), the latter was not found to mediate this relation at follow-up. In contrast to previous literature, childhood maltreatment was not associated with BMI nor with change in BMI over five years in men and women suffering from chronic disease. However, since psychological distress increases risk for morbidity and mortality, it may represent an important target for prevention and intervention in survivors of childhood maltreatment.