TOPIC: BODY IMAGE, NUTRITION, and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
YRBS
(see First Information on Sexual Orientation from StatCan): Among Canadians aged 18 to 59, 1.0% reported that they consider themselves to be homosexual and 0.7% considered themselves bisexual. About 1.3% of men considered themselves homosexual, about twice the proportion of 0.7% among women. However, 0.9% of women reported being bisexual, slightly higher than the proportion of 0.6% among men. The results indicate that, for some health-related measures, there are important differences between the heterosexual population and the gay, lesbian and bisexual population. Among individuals aged 18 to 59, for example, 21.8% of homosexuals and bisexuals reported that they had an unmet health care need in 2003, nearly twice the proportion of heterosexuals (12.7%). Homosexuals and bisexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to find life stressful. In addition, 31.4% of homosexuals and bisexuals reported that they were physically active in 2003, compared with 25.4% of heterosexuals.
YRBS
- Robin L, Brener ND, Donahue SF, Hack T, Hale K, Goodenow C. Associations between health risk behaviors and opposite-, same-, and both-sex sexual partners in representative samples of vermont and massachusetts high school students. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002 Apr;156(4):349-55. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between health risk behaviors and sexual experience with opposite-, same-, or both-sex partners in representative samples of high school students. DESIGN: We used 1995 and 1997 data from the Vermont and Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Logistic regression and multiple regression analyses were used to compare health risk behaviors among students who reported sex with opposite-sex partners only (opposite-sex students), with same-sex partners only (same-sex students), and with both male and female sexual partners (both-sex students). SETTING: Public high schools in Vermont and Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Representative, population-based samples of high school students. The combined samples had 14 623 Vermont students and 8141 Massachusetts students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Violence, harassment, suicidal behavior, alcohol and other drug use, and unhealthy weight control practices. RESULTS: In both states, both-sex students were significantly more likely to report health risk behaviors than were opposite-sex students. For example, both-sex students had odds 3 to 6 times greater than opposite-sex students of being threatened or injured with a weapon at school, making a suicide attempt requiring medical attention, using cocaine, or vomiting or using laxatives to control their weight. In both states, same-sex students were as likely as opposite-sex students to report most health risk behaviors. CONCLUSION: Relative to opposite- and same-sex students, both-sex students may be at elevated risk of injury, disease, and death by experiencing serious harassment and engaging in violence, suicidal behavior, alcohol and other drug use, and unhealthy weight control practices.
- Valanis BG, Bowen DJ, Bassford T, Whitlock E, Charney P, Carter RA. Sexual orientation and health: comparisons in the women's health initiative sample. Arch Fam Med. 2000 Sep-Oct;9(9):843-53. CONTEXT: Little is known about older lesbian and bisexual women. Existing research rarely compares characteristics of these women with comparable heterosexual women. OBJECTIVE: To compare heterosexual and nonheterosexual women 50 to 79 years on specific demographic characteristics, psychosocial risk factors, screening practices, and other health-related behaviors associated with increased risk for developing particular diseases or disease outcomes. DESIGN: Analysis of data from 93,311 participants in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study of health in postmenopausal women, comparing characteristics of 5 groups: heterosexuals, bisexuals, lifetime lesbians, adult lesbians, and those who never had sex as an adult. SETTING: Subjects were recruited at 40 WHI study centers nationwide representing a range of geographic and ethnic diversity. PARTICIPANTS: Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years who met WHI eligibility criteria, signed an informed consent to participate in the WHI clinical trial(s) or observational study, and responded to the baseline questions on sexual orientation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, psychosocial risk factors, recency of screening tests, and other health-related behaviors as assessed on the WHI baseline questionnaire. RESULTS: Although of higher socioeconomic status than the heterosexuals, the lesbian and bisexual women more often used alcohol and cigarettes, exhibited other risk factors for reproductive cancers and cardiovascular disease, and scored lower on measures of mental health and social support. Notable is the 35% of lesbians and 81% of bisexual women who have been pregnant. Women reporting that they never had sex as an adult had lower rates of Papanicolaou screening and hormone replacement therapy use than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of older lesbian and bisexual women from WHI shows many of the same health behaviors, demographic, and psychosocial risk factors reported in the literature for their younger counterparts, despite their higher socioeconomic status and access to health care. The lower rates of recommended screening services and higher prevalence of obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and lower intake of fruit and vegetables among these women compared with heterosexual women indicate unmet needs that require effective interactions between care providers and nonheterosexual women.
- Austin SB. Ziyadeh N. Kahn JA. Camargo CA Jr. Colditz GA. Field AE. Sexual
orientation, weight concerns, and eating-disordered behaviors in adolescent girls and boys. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 43(9):1115-23, 2004 Sep. OBJECTIVE: To examine sexual orientation group differences in eating disorder symptoms in adolescent girls and boys. METHOD: Cross-sectional associations were examined using multivariate regression techniques using data gathered in 1999 from 10,583 adolescents in the Growing Up Today Study, a cohort of children of women participating in the Nurses' Health Study II. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of the cohort described themselves as heterosexual, 5% as mostly heterosexual, 1% as lesbian/gay/bisexual, and 2% as unsure. Both mostly heterosexual girls and boys had greater concerns with weight and appearance and were less happy with their bodies compared with same-gender heterosexuals (all p < .05). Compared with heterosexual girls, the mostly heterosexual girls were more likely to vomit/use laxatives to control weight (odds ratio 1.7; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-2.6) and to binge eat (odds ratio 2.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.4-3.8) in the past year. Compared with heterosexual boys, gay/bisexual boys were more concerned with trying to look like men in the media (p < .05) and more likely to binge (odds ratio 15.2; 95% confidence interval = 3.3-69). Compared with heterosexual girls, lesbian/bisexual girls were happier with their bodies (p < .05) and less concerned with trying to look like women in the media (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Mostly heterosexual girls and boys are a newly identified group at increased risk of eating disorder symptoms. Gay/bisexual boys were also at increased risk.
- French SA, Story M, Remafedi G, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Sexual orientation and prevalence of body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors: a population-based study of adolescents. Int J Eat Disord. 1996 Mar;19(2):119-26. OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis that homosexual orientation would be associated with higher rates of body dissatisfaction, dieting, and eating disordered behaviors in males, but lower rates in females, relative to those of heterosexual orientation, was examined. METHODS: A population-based sample of 36,320 students in Grades 7 through 12 completed a health behavior survey that included questions on sexual orientation, body satisfaction, and weight control behaviors. A subset of heterosexual males (N = 212) and females (N = 182) were selected for comparison with the adolescents who self-identified as homosexual (N = 81 males and N = 38 females) or bisexual (N = 131 males and N = 144 females). RESULTS: Homosexual males were more likely to report a poor body image (27.8% vs. 12.0%), frequent dieting (8.9% vs. 5.5%), binge eating (25.0% vs. 10.6%), or purging behaviors (e.g., vomiting: 11.7% vs. 4.4%) compared with heterosexual males. Homosexual females were more likely than heterosexual females to report a positive body image (42.1% vs. 20.5%). However, they were not less likely to report frequent dieting (20.8% vs. 23.7%), binge eating (25.0% vs. 31.8%), or purging behaviors (e.g. vomiting: 19.4% vs. 12.1%). DISCUSSION: These results support the hypothesis that homosexual orientation is associated with greater body dissatisfaction and problem eating behaviors in males, but less body dissatisfaction in females. The possible role of sociocultural influences or gender identification on these relationships is discussed.
- Saewyc EM, Bearinger LH, Heinz PA, Blum RW, Resnick MD. Gender differences in health and risk behaviors among bisexual and homosexual adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 1998 Sep;23(3):181-8. OBJECTIVE: This study explored gender differences in the health and risk behaviors of 394 self-identified bisexual and homosexual adolescents who participated in an anonymous, school-based survey. METHODS: Respondents included 182 girls and 212 boys; girls were significantly younger than boys (p < 0.001), so respondents were further grouped as younger (< or =14 years) and older (> or =15 years) for analysis. Chi-square was used to test for gender differences in health perceptions and risk behaviors. Items included general health perceptions and health care access, body image and disordered eating behaviors, sexual behaviors, alcohol use, and emotional health measures including mood, life satisfaction, and suicidal ideation and attempts. RESULTS: Both younger and older girls were significantly more likely than their male age mates to report a history of sexual abuse, dissatisfaction with weight, a negative body image, more frequent dieting, and an earlier age at onset of sexual intercourse. Both younger and older boys were significantly more likely than girls to have a positive body image, to rate themselves as healthier than peers, to report no regular source of health care, to be sexually experienced, and to drink alcohol more often and in greater quantity; a significantly greater proportion of older boys than older girls reported alcohol use before school (19.0% vs. 3.9%; p < 0.05). No significant gender differences were found for measures of emotional health, including suicidal ideation and attempts; however, nearly 1 of 3 older boys and girls reported at least one suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Gender is a substantive source of variation in health and risk behaviors among bisexual and homosexual adolescents. Health care providers should incorporate gender-specific approaches to health promotion and risk reduction with young people who self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
(see First Information on Sexual Orientation from StatCan): Among Canadians aged 18 to 59, 1.0% reported that they consider themselves to be homosexual and 0.7% considered themselves bisexual. About 1.3% of men considered themselves homosexual, about twice the proportion of 0.7% among women. However, 0.9% of women reported being bisexual, slightly higher than the proportion of 0.6% among men. The results indicate that, for some health-related measures, there are important differences between the heterosexual population and the gay, lesbian and bisexual population. Among individuals aged 18 to 59, for example, 21.8% of homosexuals and bisexuals reported that they had an unmet health care need in 2003, nearly twice the proportion of heterosexuals (12.7%). Homosexuals and bisexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to find life stressful. In addition, 31.4% of homosexuals and bisexuals reported that they were physically active in 2003, compared with 25.4% of heterosexuals.