Body size and weight, and the nutrition and activity behaviors of sexual and gender minority youth: Findings and implications from New Zealand

Lucassen, Mathijs; Guntupalli, Aravinda; Clark, Terryann; Fenaughty, John; Denny, Simon; Fleming, Theresa; Smith, Melody and Utter, Jennifer (2019). Body size and weight, and the nutrition and activity behaviors of sexual and gender minority youth: Findings and implications from New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 22(13) pp. 2346–2356.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019001149

Abstract

Objective:To describe the body size and weight, and the nutrition and activity behaviors of sexual and gender minority (SGM) students, and compare them with those of exclusively opposite-sex-attracted cisgender students. Male and female SGM students were also compared.

Design: Data were from a nationally representative health survey.

Setting: Secondary schools in New Zealand, 2012.

Subjects: A total of 7,769 students, 9% were SGM individuals.

Results: Overall, weight control behaviors, poor nutrition and inactivity were common and, in many cases, more so for SGM students. Specifically, male SGM students were significantly more likely to have tried to lose weight (aOR=1.95; 95% CI 1.47, 2.59), engage in unhealthy weight control (aOR=2.17; 95% CI 1.48, 3.19), consume fast food and takeaways (aOR=2.89; 95% CI 2.01, 4.15), and be physically inactive (aOR=2.54; 95% CI 1.65, 3.92), and were less likely to participate in a school sports team (aOR=0.57; 95% CI 0.44, 0.75), compared with other males. Female SGM students were significantly more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control (aOR=1.58; 95% CI 1.20, 2.08), be overweight or obese (aOR=1.24; 95% CI 1.01, 1.53), and consume fast food and takeaways (aOR=2.19; 95% CI 1.59, 3.03), and were less likely to participate in a school sports team (aOR=0.62; 95% CI 0.50, 0.76), compared with other females. Generally, female SGM students were more negatively affected than comparable males, except they were less likely to consume fast food and takeaways frequently (aOR 0.62; 95% CI 0.40, 0.96).

Conclusions: SGM students reported increased weight control behaviors, poor nutrition and inactivity. Professionals, including public health nutritionists, must recognize and help to address the challenges facing sexual and gender minorities.

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