OBJECTIVE: Perceived weight discrimination has been associated with several health-risk behaviors related to eating and physical activity. The purpose of this research is to test whether weight discrimination is associated with nonweight-related high-risk behaviors that put the individual's health at risk. METHODS: As part of a larger survey on health and well-being, participants (N = 5,163) reported on their experiences with weight discrimination and their engagement in four high-risk behaviors: current cigarette smoking, driving while intoxicated, risky sexual/drug use behaviors, and seat belt use. Logistic regression was used to test the association between weight discrimination and each behavior, controlling for relevant demographics and BMI. RESULTS: Perceived weight discrimination was associated with increased risk of cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-1.99), driving while intoxicated (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.60-2.54), risky sexual/drug use behaviors (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.69-2.80), and not using a seat belt (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.15-2.03). With the exception of seat belt use, all associations remained significant controlling for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research indicate that the harmful associations between weight discrimination and health-risk behaviors are not limited to behaviors related to eating and physical activity but extend to high-risk behaviors that may contribute to the association between weight discrimination and poor health.
OBJECTIVE: Perceived weight discrimination has been associated with several health-risk behaviors related to eating and physical activity. The purpose of this research is to test whether weight discrimination is associated with nonweight-related high-risk behaviors that put the individual's health at risk. METHODS: As part of a larger survey on health and well-being, participants (N = 5,163) reported on their experiences with weight discrimination and their engagement in four high-risk behaviors: current cigarette smoking, driving while intoxicated, risky sexual/drug use behaviors, and seat belt use. Logistic regression was used to test the association between weight discrimination and each behavior, controlling for relevant demographics and BMI. RESULTS: Perceived weight discrimination was associated with increased risk of cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-1.99), driving while intoxicated (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.60-2.54), risky sexual/drug use behaviors (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.69-2.80), and not using a seat belt (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.15-2.03). With the exception of seat belt use, all associations remained significant controlling for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research indicate that the harmful associations between weight discrimination and health-risk behaviors are not limited to behaviors related to eating and physical activity but extend to high-risk behaviors that may contribute to the association between weight discrimination and poor health.
Authors: Angelina R Sutin; Yannick Stephan; Mary A Gerend; Eric Robinson; Michael Daly; Antonio Terracciano Journal: J Psychosom Res Date: 2019-08-06 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Angelina R Sutin; Eric Robinson; Michael Daly; Mary A Gerend; Yannick Stephan; Martina Luchetti; Damaris Aschwanden; Jason E Strickhouser; Ji Hyun Lee; Amanda A Sesker; Antonio Terracciano Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2020-07-31 Impact factor: 9.298