Weight loss after participation in a national VA weight management program among veterans with or without PTSD.

OBJECTIVE: This evaluation compared the effectiveness of MOVE!, a U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) weight management program, among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other mental conditions, or no mental health diagnoses.

METHODS: VHA administrative data from 2008 to 2012 were used to estimate adjusted six- and 12-month weight change and ≥5% weight loss among 20,819 veterans with "intense and sustained" MOVE! participation (14% of 148,963 MOVE! participants, regardless of mental health status).

RESULTS: Compared with veterans with no mental health diagnoses, veterans with PTSD lost significantly less weight at six and 12 months (p<.05) and were less likely to lose ≥5% body weight at six months (OR=.89, p<.05). At six months, those with other mental conditions lost significantly less weight than those with no mental health diagnoses (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: MOVE! may need adaptation to increase overall engagement and enhance weight loss for veterans with mental conditions, especially PTSD.