Race‐Ethnicity, Union Status, and Change in Body Mass Index in Young Adulthood

Abstract

This study used data from three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and fixed-effects regression to consider whether associations between change in union status and change in BMI were moderated by race/ethnicity. The results indicated that intimate unions were differentially associated with gains in BMI along race/ethnic lines, especially for women. Compared to White women, marriage was associated with larger increases in BMI for Black, Hispanic and Multiracial women, and cohabitation was associated with larger increases for Black and Hispanic women. In contrast, both marriage and cohabitation were associated with less weight gain for Asian compared to White women. Among men, racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between union status and BMI were similarly patterned but less pronounced. The results suggest that, particularly for women, marital status-already its own source of stratification, further exacerbates racial/ethnic disparities in BMI from adolescence to young adulthood.

Becoming a parent: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of changes in BMI, diet, and physical activity

“…All four studies that included BMI but were ineligible for meta‐analysis presented data for women and showed either an adjusted BMI increase over time (0.32 ± 0.15 kg/m 2 ) or unadjusted increases in weight gain (+2.0 kg [SD for change unavailable], +15.2 ± 2.4 kg and +4 kg [SD for change unavailable]) when becoming a parent; however, not all were compared with non‐parents . The one study including data on men reported no difference in BMI change (−0.07 ± 0.2 kg/m 2 ) compared with non‐parents …”

“…All four studies that included BMI but were ineligible for metaanalysis [35][36][37][38] presented data for women and showed either an adjusted BMI increase over time (0.32 ± 0.15 kg/m 2 ) 35…”

“…Funnel plot asymmetry and Eggers test for bias were conducted for the meta-analyses to investigate potential publication bias. Only one study included data for men 35 (the rest only reported on data for women), so only data for women were included in the meta-analysis.…”

“…Funnel plot asymmetry and Eggers test for bias were conducted for the meta‐analyses to investigate potential publication bias. Only one study included data for men (the rest only reported on data for women), so only data for women were included in the meta‐analysis. Furthermore, three studies did not include a comparison group who did not become parents, and there were limited studies including physical activity and diet data; these results are presented narratively.…”

Income and Marital Status Interact on Obesity Among Black and White Men

“…Married and cohabiting men tend to have higher BMI or higher odds of being obese (Raley, Sweeney, & Wondra, 2015; Sobal, Hanson, & Frongillo, 2009; Sobal & Rauschenbach, 2003; Sobal, Rauschenbach, & Frongillo, 1992; Teachman, 2016). Though marriage rates are lower among Black men compared to White men (Raley et al, 2015), studies of race, BMI, and union status or marital transitions report that the positive effects of relationship status on increased obesity rates are stronger among Black men (Kroeger & Frank, 2018; Umberson, Liu, & Powers, 2009). Given that some studies demonstrate that income is positively associated with obesity among Black men (Chang & Lauderdale, 2005; Griffith, Johnson-Lawrence, et al, 2011; Sanchez-Vaznaugh et al, 2009; Zhang & Wang, 2004) as is being married or cohabiting (Kroeger & Frank, 2018; Umberson et al, 2009), it is important to assess the interrelationships between income, marital status, and obesity among men, and understand if the association varies between Black and White men.…”