Yes, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can significantly contribute to weight gain through hormonal changes (like increased cortisol), altered appetite, using food as a coping mechanism, and metabolic disruptions, leading to increased cravings, fat storage (especially belly fat), and difficulty managing weight. Research shows a strong link between PTSD and obesity, affecting weight trajectories over time, but effective treatment for PTSD symptoms can reduce these risks.
Indeed, PTSD has been associated with higher BMI/obesity and its complications, including high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, not only when compared to the healthy state, but also when compared with other psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, and dementia [7, 8].
Common Symptoms of a CPTSD Episode
Intense feelings of anxiety or panic. Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event. Overwhelming feelings of sadness or despair. Heightened emotional sensitivity or irritability.
While there isn't one official list of exactly 17 symptoms, C-PTSD symptoms often include core PTSD issues (flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance, nightmares) plus difficulties with emotional regulation, self-perception (shame, worthlessness), relationships (trust issues, isolation), and severe dissociative or somatic symptoms (feeling detached, chronic pain) due to prolonged trauma, often presented as distinct points by various mental health sources.
PTSD has also been linked with chronic physical problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, chronic pain, fatigue, and decreased life expectancy. The person may not realize the connection between their physical symptoms and a traumatic event.
7 Clear Signs Your Body Is Releasing Stored Trauma
Common mental health effects of untreated PTSD include:
Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including ...
The symptoms of complex PTSD are similar to symptoms of PTSD, but may also include:
Medicine. The 2 medicines recommended to treat PTSD in adults are paroxetine and sertraline. Paroxetine and sertraline are both a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Symptoms of a PTSD Episode
Some of the most common symptoms include: Flashbacks or vivid re-experiencing of the traumatic event. Sudden bursts of anger or irritability. Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response.
Your PTSD symptoms may be severe enough to interfere with your daily quality of life in ways like these.
Misdiagnosis with BPD
Some of the symptoms of complex PTSD are very similar to those of borderline personality disorder (BPD). And not all professionals are aware of complex PTSD. As a result, some people are given a diagnosis of BPD or another personality disorder when complex PTSD fits their experiences more closely.
Lifestyle changes
It's no surprise that an increase in food intake or decrease in physical activity can cause weight gain. But there are many other lifestyle factors that can impact your weight, including: Stress. When you're under stress, your body releases cortisol.
Indeed, the epidemiologic data suggest that PTSD increases one's risk for developing metabolic disorder and cardiovascular disease (Boscarino, 2004; Rosenbaum et al., 2015).
How stress can lead to weight gain. When we feel stressed—as many of us have for the last few years—our bodies can tip toward releasing too much cortisol, leading to weight gain, acne, trouble sleeping, headaches, and digestive problems.
Relaxation and sleep may become difficult, leading to symptoms such as insomnia or restless sleep. Additionally, hyperarousal can manifest as irritability, anger, aggressive behaviour, and difficulty concentrating due to racing thoughts or distractibility.
Pete Walker's “Complex Trauma: From Surviving to Thriving,” explores the four F's of complex trauma, fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, to help survivors understand their coping mechanisms and reactions, and begin to work towards actions that may better serve them in their life and relationships.
A comprehensive review of the litera- ture on complex trauma suggests seven primary domains of impairment ob- served in exposed children: attachment, biology, affect regulation, dissociation (ie, alterations in consciousness), behav- ioral regulation, cognition, and self-con- cept.
High-functioning PTSD looks like someone who meets their daily responsibilities while battling symptoms that others don't see. They may excel at work, maintain relationships, and appear successful, but internally they're managing distressing memories and avoiding reminders of traumatic events.
These triggers can be external, such as sights, sounds, smells, or locations that are associated with the trauma. They can also be internal, such as certain thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations that are similar to those experienced during the traumatic event.
A veteran may receive a 100 percent disability for service-connected PTSD if the symptoms fully disable the veteran's occupational and social functioning. Criteria for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD under VA regulations include: Total occupational and social impairment.
Supporting someone with PTSD means understanding their unique neural bridges - those fragile connections between trauma and safety. The worst thing to do to someone with PTSD is to destabilize these bridges further through dismissive words, sudden actions, or ignoring their need for stability.
Evidence for Objective Sleep Disturbances in PTSD
Meta-analytic findings suggest that PTSD is associated with more light sleep, less slow-wave sleep, and greater REM density,13 although it is unclear to what extent these abnormalities are specific to PTSD compared to other mental disorders.
What Triggers PTSD Years Later?