Rates and Predictors of Obesity Among African American Sexual Minority Women.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine rates of and risk factors for obesity in a community sample of African American sexual minority women (SMW).
Methods: Data were collected using self-administered paper-and-pencil survey questionnaires (n = 219).
Results: Participants were primarily middle aged (M = 40.1; standard deviation [SD] = 10.5 years), well educated (56.9% with a college education and above), insured (82.3%), and had a median income range from $30,000 to $39,999. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the sample was 31.6 (SD = 8.0). Based on BMI scores, over half of the participants were identified as obese (53.9%) and 25.6% were overweight. A number of comorbid illnesses were reported that could be exacerbated by excess weight, including arthritis (21.3%), adult-onset diabetes (4.9%), back problems (23.2%), high cholesterol (15.3%), high blood pressure (19.2%), and heart disease (12%). Multiple risk factors for obesity were observed, including infrequent exercise (<3 times/week = 50.9%), low levels of fruit/vegetable consumption (≤1 serving daily = 39.9%), and frequent consumption of red meat (≥3 times/week = 21.2%). Psychosocial risk factors were also reported, including "eating in response to stress" (46.0%). Depression scores predicted eating in response to stress. One-third of the sample reported interest in weight management interventions.
Conclusions: African American SMW report high rates of obesity, chronic health conditions exacerbated by weight, and health and dietary behaviors that increase risk for weight-related health disparities. These study findings have implications for additional research and intervention development.