Abstract :
Background Studies on the association between psychosocial factors
and obesity have provided mixed findings. Objectives Current study used
a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults to investigate how
intersection of race, gender and age alters the psychosocial correlates
of body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods Data came from the
national health measurement study (NHMS), a cross-sectional study with
nationally representative sample of Black and White (n = 3,648) adults
ages 35 - 89. We tested bivariate correlations between BMI and physical
and mental quality of life, purpose in life, number of chronic medical
conditions, and discrimination across race × gender × age groups.
Results Higher purpose in life was associated with lower BMI among
middle aged and older White women, middle aged Black men, middle aged
Black women, and older Black women but not middle aged or older White
men and older Black men. There was a positive association between
multi-morbidity and BMI in all groups other than older White men. High
BMI was associated with poor mental quality of life among older White
women, older Black men and women, but not any of middle aged groups, and
older White men. High BMI was associated with poor physical quality of
life among all groups. Everyday discrimination was positively associated
with BMI among older White women but not any other group. Lifetime
discrimination was not associated with BMI among any of the groups.
Conclusions Race, gender, and age shape psychosocial and health related
correlates of BMI. There is a need for further research on group
differences in psychosocial correlates of obesity.
