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College Climate and Sexual Orientation Differences in Weight Status
Nicole A VanKim1, Marla E Eisenberg2,3, Darin J Erickson2
1Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA. nvankim@umass.edu.
Summary
Supportive college environments may reduce obesity risk for all students, including lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Higher LGB climate scores correlated with lower overweight and obesity rates, though male students showed complex associations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Sexual orientation disparities in obesity are documented.
- Contextual factors influence health outcomes for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals.
- Limited research explores contextual factors' role in sexual orientation disparities in obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between college-level LGB climate and student weight status.
- To investigate how college environments influence sexual orientation disparities in obesity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized individual-level data from the 2009-2013 College Student Health Survey (n=29,118).
- Collected college-level LGB context data from college websites.
- Employed multinomial logistic regression to analyze associations between LGB climate scores and student weight status (underweight, healthy, overweight, obese).
Main Results:
- Higher LGB climate scores (more supportive environments) were linked to a lower risk of overweight and obesity for all students.
- Associations were similar for the overall female sample and sexual orientation-stratified female students.
- A more complex relationship was observed between LGB climate scores and weight status among male students.
Conclusions:
- Supportive college environments may mitigate obesity risks across student populations.
- Further research is needed to understand complex associations, particularly for male students.
- Investigating broader contextual factors (state/city policies, social norms) is crucial for understanding obesity disparities.
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