How Childhood Trauma, Processed Food Intake, and Symptoms of PTSD, Food Addiction, and Eating Disorders Relate in Adults Seeking Nutrition Help in Los Angeles

In a sample of 304 adults, symptoms of PTSD fully mediated 99.4% of the positive relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and eating disorder symptoms.

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to various psychological conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders (EDs), and ultra-processed food addiction (UPFA).
• Symptoms of PTSD fully mediated the relationship between ACEs and ED symptoms, indicating a strong connection.
• Greater frequency of ultra-processed food consumption mediated 23.7% of the relationship between ACEs and UPFA symptoms.
• UPFA symptoms mediated 73.8% of the positive relationship between ultra-processed food intake and eating disorder symptomology.
• Symptoms of UPFA explained 46.0% of the positive association between PTSD symptoms and indicators of eating disorder pathology.
• Significant associations were found among all hypothesized relationships when analyzed simultaneously.

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