Trauma In Childhood Could Contribute To Obesity In Adults

Poor babies.

Scientific studies often attribute obesity to poor nutrition and lack of activity, but recent research has identified childhood traumatic stress as a potential risk factor for obesity in adulthood.

The research, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, included 148 adult women. Eric A. Dedert, Ph.D., lead author for the study and research psychologist at the North Carolina Veterans Affairs Medical Center, says that nearly half of the women studied reported exposure to childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. Almost 80 percent of the women had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or both.

The women who reported abuse were more likely to experience PTSD and depression, and were also more likely to be overweight in adulthood.

Excusinators in overdrive.