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Perceived weight discrimination and high‐risk health‐related behaviors
Author(s) -
Sutin Angelina R.,
Terracciano Antonio
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.21845
Subject(s) - odds ratio , confidence interval , logistic regression , medicine , demographics , demography , health risk , youth risk behavior survey , odds , association (psychology) , environmental health , behavioral risk factor surveillance system , injury prevention , psychology , poison control , population , sociology , psychotherapist
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.