68: Exploring the Relationship Between Obesity and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Female Adolescents

Article Outline

• Purpose
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions
• Sources of Support
• Copyright

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Purpose 

Although there is evidence that sexual behaviors among adults varies by body mass index (BMI), little is known about the relationship between body weight and sexual behaviors among adolescents. We examined the association between body weight and 6 sexual behaviors in adolescent females.

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Methods 

We analyzed data from the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) survey to examine the relationship between BMI, self-reported perceived weight (underweight, normal, overweight) and 6 sexual behaviors. Sexual behaviors included: ever had vaginal sex, coitarche before age 13, ≥ 4 lifetime sexual partners, alcohol or drug use before last sex, condom use at last sex, and contraception use at last sex. Covariates included socio-demographics (age, race/ethnicity) and partner violence (hit by a partner, ever forced to have sex). We performed univariate analyses to describe sample characteristics and bivariate analyses to examine the relationship between BMI, weight perception and the 6 sexual behaviors.

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Results 

Two-thirds (62%) of the sample were non-Hispanic whites, 15% non-Hispanic blacks, 10% Latino, and 3% Asian. Nearly half (46%) had ever had vaginal sex. By BMI, 2% were underweight and 26% overweight; 10% perceived themselves as underweight and 38% overweight. A larger proportion of girls were overweight among those who had early coitarche (36.2% vs 25.0%, p < 0.001) and among those who had ≥ 4 lifetime partners (31.7% vs 24.6%, p = 0.02) compared to girls who denied these behaviors. Compared to girls who denied early intercourse, girls reporting coitarche before age 13 were more likely to perceived themselves as overweight (45% vs 38%, p = 0.0006) or underweight (17% vs 9%, p = 0.0006). A smaller proportion of girls were overweight among those who used contraception at last sex compared to those who did not use contraception at last sex (20.1% vs 25.7%, p < 0.04). Compared to girls who denied ever being forced to have sex, a larger proportion of girls who reported being forced to have sex were overweight (42% vs 38%) or underweight (12% vs 10%, p = 0.03).

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Conclusions 

Several sexual risk behaviors may be more common among girls at the weight extremes. Additional studies are needed to understand the factors that underlie these associations. Parents and sex educators could use this information to ensure that adolescent females at the weight extremes posses adequate sexual negotiation skills and self-esteem to avoid sexual risk behaviors.

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Sources of Support 

Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UL1 RR024153) and Institutional K12 (KL2 RR024154-02) both at the University of Pittsburgh.