Relationship between weight-related behavioral profiles and health outcomes by sexual orientation and gender

OBJECTIVE: Examine relationships between weight-related factors and weight status, body dissatisfaction, chronic health conditions, and quality of life across sexual orientation and gender. METHODS: Two- and four-year college students participated in the College Student Health Survey (n=28,703; 2009-2013). Risk differences were calculated to estimate relationships between behavioral profiles and weight status, body satisfaction, diagnosis of a chronic condition, and quality of life, stratified by gender and sexual orientation. Four behavioral profiles, characterized as “healthier eating habits, more physically active,” “healthier eating habits,” “moderate eating habits,” and “unhealthy weight control,” were utilized based on latent class analyses, estimated from nine weight-related behavioral survey items. RESULTS: Sexual orientation differences in weight and quality of life were identified. For example, sexual minority groups reported significantly poorer quality of life than their heterosexual counterparts (females: 22.5%-38.6% (sexual minority) vs. 19.8% (heterosexual); males: 14.3%-26.7% (sexual minority) vs. 11.8% (heterosexual)). Compared to the “healthier eating habits, more physically active” profile, the “unhealthy weight control” profile was associated with obesity, poor body satisfaction, and poor quality of life in multiple gender/sexual orientation subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions are needed to address obesity, body dissatisfaction, and poor quality of life among sexual minority college students.