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Sexual Orientation and Obesity: What Do We Know?

  • Psychological Issues (V Drapeau and V Ivezaj, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review describes research addressing sexual orientation disparities in obesity and their sequelae, with a focus on new findings from the past year and areas for future work.

Recent Findings

Sexual minority people of color experience important health disparities related to obesity. Sexual minority women may be at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than their heterosexual counterparts, potentially because of obesity-related disparities. Bisexual men also appear to experience more obesity and potential greater risk for type 2 diabetes than heterosexual men. Stigma and discrimination are important emerging areas for additional research to better understand sexual orientation disparities in obesity-related health.

Summary

There is a need for intersectional research and longitudinal research that connects existing sexual orientation disparities in obesity with subsequent chronic disease development. Additionally, upstream efforts to understand the impact of stigma and discrimination on the weight-related health of sexual minority groups are needed.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as:

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

      Nicole A. VanKim

    2. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

      Melissa N. Laska

    Authors
    1. Nicole A. VanKim
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    Correspondence to Nicole A. VanKim.

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    Cite this article

    VanKim, N.A., Laska, M.N. Sexual Orientation and Obesity: What Do We Know?. Curr Obes Rep 10, 453–457 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-021-00454-w

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