Bisexual, pansexual, and queer individuals were at greater risk for obesity than gay/lesbian participants; and only bisexual peope were at higher risk to be overweight.
This is according to a study – “Demographic and Minority Stress Risk Factors for Obesity Among Sexual Minority Youth Assigned Female at Birth” by Emily A. Devlin, Michael E. Newcomb, and Sarah Whitton – that appeared in LGBT Health.
As it is, sexual minority youth (adolescents and young adults) assigned female at birth (SM-AFAB) are at disproportionate risk of developing obesity compared with heterosexual cisgender youth AFAB, according to the researchers. And so grounded in minority stress theory, this study wanted to identify potential risk factors for obesity among SM-AFAB youth to inform the development of prevention and intervention efforts for this high-risk population.
For this study, data were collected in 2017 from 367 SM-AFAB youth (ages 16–20 years). Multinominal logistic regression was used to assess cross-sectional associations of race/ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, household income, and sexual minority (SM) stressors (internalized stigma, microaggressions, and victimization) with weight status (normal, overweight, and obese).
This study found:
- Roughly half (53.1%) of participants’ body mass index were in the normal weight range, with 24.8% in the overweight range and 22.1% in the obese range.
- Rates of obesity in Black and Latinx participants were 3 to 4.5 times those of White participants.
- Bisexual, pansexual, and queer individuals were at greater risk for obesity than gay/lesbian participants; only bisexual participants were at higher risk for overweight.
- Participants with a household income <$20,000 and between $20,000 and $39,000 were at greater risk for obesity than participants with household income >$80,000.
- Microaggressions were positively associated with obesity.
The findings “highlight risk for obesity among SM-AFAB youth, particularly for those who identify as racial minority, as low income, as being attracted to more than one gender, and for those who experience high levels of anti-SM microaggressions,” the researchers stressed.
The researchers, therefore, recommended for targeted obesity prevention and treatment programs to consider the unique needs, challenges, and strengths of SM-AFAB youth.
