Nutrition and Food Security Among Veterans: Operationalizing Nutritional Functioning.
Diana P Brostow, Alexandra A Smith, Nazanin H Bahraini and 3 others
PMID 38649010WHAT IT FOUND
Veterans with polytrauma face nutritional barriers rooted in psychosocial and cognitive factors, not just food access.
Many view food assistance as a "handout" and struggle with meal planning due to PTSD and pain, requiring tailored rehabilitation interventions that address these specific psychological and functional obstacles.
Key findings
01Veterans with polytrauma identified five core constructs of nutritional functioning: food background, nutrition knowledge, meal aptitude, resource navigation, and navigation of food spaces.
02Psychosocial and cognitive barriers, such as PTSD-related hypervigilance and executive dysfunction, frequently prevented veterans from engaging in meal preparation or entering grocery stores.
03Despite high rates of food insecurity, veterans rarely acknowledged experiencing it, often viewing food assistance as a "handout" incompatible with their identity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study focused on post-9/11 veterans receiving care at specialized VA polytrauma centers, so findings may not generalize to other populations or those without internet access. The sample size was relatively small (43 survey participants, 37 interviewees), which may limit the breadth of themes identified. Self-reported data on food insecurity and eating behaviors may be subject to social desirability bias, particularly given the stigma around assistance.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that providing nutrition education or financial resources alone will improve nutritional functioning. The study found that psychosocial barriers, such as the stigma of using food assistance and cognitive impairments related to PTSD, are primary obstacles that require targeted behavioral and environmental interventions.