Relationship between childhood and adolescent abuse and victimization with adulthood body mass index among gay and bisexual men in four U.S. cities

Purpose: The epidemiology of obesity among gay and bisexual men is unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between early abuse and victimization with current body weight among gay and bisexual men.

Methods: Participants from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh) who attended semiannual visits 49 and/or 50 (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009) completed an additional questionnaire about early life events, including abuse and victimization. Weight and height measurements were obtained by clinic staff. Proportional odds models adjusted for socio-demographic covariates were used to investigate the association of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), childhood physical abuse (CPA) and childhood victimization (CV) with increasing body mass index (BMI) categories.

Results: The frequencies of CSA and CPA were 15.8% and 49%. Median CV score was 4.0 (IQR=1-8). There is a statistically non-significant association of CSA with increasing BMI categories (p<0.29). However, among participants who were physically abused by their parents or guardians before they were 18 years old (CPA) and among participants who were victimized during junior high/middle school (CV), there was a statistically significant increased odds of 26% (95% CI: 1.08-1.46) and 53% (95% CI: 1.06-2.21) with increasing BMI categories, respectively.

Conclusions: These findings are relevant in highlighting the long-lasting negative consequences to victimization/bullying among gay men in midlife who reported these experiences during middle and high school. Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommending more healthy eating among middle and high school-aged youth in school and at home are highly warranted.