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. 2016 Feb;24(2):506-15.
doi: 10.1002/oby.21338.

Gender expression associated with BMI in a prospective cohort study of US adolescents

S Bryn Austin  1   2   3 , Najat J Ziyadeh  1 , Jerel P Calzo  1 , Kendrin R Sonneville  4 , Grace A Kennedy  1 , Andrea L Roberts  3 , Jess Haines  5 , Emily A Scherer  6
Affiliations

Gender expression associated with BMI in a prospective cohort study of US adolescents

S Bryn Austin et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between gender expression (GE) and BMI in adolescence.

Methods: Repeated measures of weight-related behaviors and BMI were collected from 1996 to 2011 via annual/biennial self-report surveys from youth aged 10 to 23 years (6,693 females, 2,978 males) in the longitudinal Growing Up Today Study. GE (very conforming [referent], mostly conforming, nonconforming) was assessed in 2010/11. Sex-stratified, multivariable linear models estimated GE group differences in BMI and the contribution of sexual orientation and weight-related exposures to group differences. Models for males included interaction terms for GE with age.

Results: In females, mostly conforming youth had 0.53 kg m(-2) and nonconforming had 1.23 kg m(-2) higher BMI; when adding adjustment for sexual orientation and weight-related exposures, GE group estimates were attenuated up to 8% and remained statistically significant. In males, mostly conforming youth had -0.67 kg m(-2) and nonconforming had -1.99 kg m(-2) lower BMI (age [in years]) interactions were between -0.09 and -0.14 kg m(-2) ; when adding adjustment for sexual orientation and weight-related exposures, GE group estimates were attenuated up to 11% and remained statistically significant.

Conclusions: GE is a strong independent predictor of BMI in adolescence. Obesity prevention and treatment interventions with youth must address ways that gender norms may reinforce or undermine healthful behaviors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Predicted mean BMI (kg/m2) by age and gender expression group as estimated from model in Table 4 adjusting for sexual orientation and weight-related behaviors, females
Figure 2
Figure 2
Predicted mean BMI (kg/m2) by age and gender expression group as estimated from model in Table 5 adjusting for sexual orientation and weight-related behaviors, males
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