Jerel P Calzo1, Kendrin R Sonneville2, Emily A Scherer3, Benita Jackson4, S Bryn Austin5. 1. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; jerel.calzo@childrens.harvard.edu. 2. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 3. Department of Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire; 4. Department of Psychology, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts; 5. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; and Channing Division of Network Medicine, The Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Use of laxatives for weight loss and drugs or supplements to build muscle (eg, steroids) differs by gender and sexual orientation; little is known about factors contributing to these disparities. Conformity to gender norms concerning appearance could underlie these differences. METHODS: This study examined associations between childhood gender conformity and laxative and muscle-building product use from ages 13 to 25 years in a sample of 13 683 males and females in the US prospective Growing Up Today Study. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression models of repeated measures estimated odds of past-year laxative and muscle-building product use by quartiles of greater childhood gender conformity in heterosexual and sexual minority (eg, bisexual, gay) participants. RESULTS: By age 23 years, ∼20% of sexual minority females reported past-year laxative use. By age 19 years, 12% of all males reported past-year muscle-building product use. Sexual minority females had twice the odds of heterosexual females of using laxatives (P < .0001). The most gender-conforming females had 50% greater odds than the least-conforming females of using laxatives (P < .01). Moderate (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-2.75) and highly (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-2.33) gender-conforming males had higher odds than gender-nonconforming males of using muscle-building products. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual minority females are at high risk for laxative abuse. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender conformity increased the odds of laxative abuse among females and muscle-building product use among males. Findings can inform prevention efforts to target youth at risk for laxative or muscle-building product use.
BACKGROUND: Use of laxatives for weight loss and drugs or supplements to build muscle (eg, steroids) differs by gender and sexual orientation; little is known about factors contributing to these disparities. Conformity to gender norms concerning appearance could underlie these differences. METHODS: This study examined associations between childhood gender conformity and laxative and muscle-building product use from ages 13 to 25 years in a sample of 13 683 males and females in the US prospective Growing Up Today Study. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression models of repeated measures estimated odds of past-year laxative and muscle-building product use by quartiles of greater childhood gender conformity in heterosexual and sexual minority (eg, bisexual, gay) participants. RESULTS: By age 23 years, ∼20% of sexual minority females reported past-year laxative use. By age 19 years, 12% of all males reported past-year muscle-building product use. Sexual minority females had twice the odds of heterosexual females of using laxatives (P < .0001). The most gender-conforming females had 50% greater odds than the least-conforming females of using laxatives (P < .01). Moderate (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-2.75) and highly (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-2.33) gender-conforming males had higher odds than gender-nonconforming males of using muscle-building products. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual minority females are at high risk for laxative abuse. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender conformity increased the odds of laxative abuse among females and muscle-building product use among males. Findings can inform prevention efforts to target youth at risk for laxative or muscle-building product use.
Authors: S Bryn Austin; Lauren A Nelson; Michelle A Birkett; Jerel P Calzo; Bethany Everett Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2012-12-13 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: S Bryn Austin; Najat J Ziyadeh; Heather L Corliss; Margaret Rosario; David Wypij; Jess Haines; Carlos A Camargo; Alison E Field Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2009-05-09 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Jason M Nagata; F Hunter McGuire; Jason M Lavender; Tiffany A Brown; Stuart B Murray; Emilio J Compte; Chloe J Cattle; Annesa Flentje; Micah E Lubensky; Juno Obedin-Maliver; Mitchell R Lunn Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2022-01-12
Authors: Allegra R Gordon; S Bryn Austin; Jordan Schultz; Carly E Guss; Jerel P Calzo; Monica L Wang Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 7.830