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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lorraine T. Midanik, PhD, Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, 120 Haviland Hall, MC #7400, Berkeley, CA 94720-7400, (510) 642-7974, lmidanik@berkeley.edu and Julia Hastings, MSW, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University of California, 120 Haviland Hall #7400, Berkeley, CA 94720-7400.

The contribution of obesity to morbidity and negative health outcomes, such as cardiovascular heart disease, has been of great interest given the rising rates of obesity in the U.S. Surprisingly, little attention has been focused on the relationship of alcohol use, body weight and obesity even though riskier alcohol use is associated with many of the same negative health outcomes as obesity. The purpose of this study is to examine ethnic differences and the relationship of heavier alcohol use (5 or more drinks on one occasion in the last 30 days) and body weight, including obesity (BMI = 30 or higher). Data from this study were obtained from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (N = 42,044). The results indicate that the mean number of days consumed 5 or more drinks differs by ethnic group when BMIs of more than 30 are compared to overweight, normal, and underweight groups. For white respondents, elevated risks were associated with obese (0.95 days) and underweight (0.95 days) groups. Latino and Asian respondents manifested a linear relationship between days 5+ drinks and BMI group with the lowest number of 5+ days for underweight (0.71 Latino; 0.42 Asian). The African American respondents had the highest mean number of 5+ days for the normal BMI category (1.04). These very different patterns suggest that cultural differences may underlie the relationship of alcohol use and body weight.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Understand the relationship between body weight and alcohol use and how it differs by ethnic group.
• 2. Consider the meaning of body weight and alcohol use within different ethnic groups.
• 3. Discuss the multiple ways in which heavier alcohol use is measure and applied in studies.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No