Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Obesity: Gender-Specific Pathways

Childhood maltreatment has been linked to adverse health outcomes across the life course, yet its association with body mass index (BMI) in middle adulthood remains underexplored. Using MIDUS Refresher Biomarker and Milwaukee African American Sample data (N = 696), this study examined five maltreatment types and midlife BMI categories by gender. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that physical abuse (RRR = 2.41, p < .05), emotional abuse (RRR = 2.76, p < .01), and physical neglect (RRR = 1.68, p < .05) were associated with elevated BMI categories, with sexual abuse showing the strongest associations with both obesity (RRR = 2.56, p < .01) and severe obesity (RRR = 3.65, p < .01). Gender-stratified analyses revealed differences as well, as women who experienced physical abuse (RRR = 3.01, p < .05), emotional abuse (RRR = 3.17, p < .05), or sexual abuse (RRR = 4.71, p < .01) had increased risk of severe obesity, whereas men showed elevated obesity risk only with sexual abuse exposure (RRR = 3.86, p < .05). Findings underscore the need for trauma-informed, gender-sensitive approaches to obesity prevention and treatment across the lifespan.