Intersecting Social Inequalities and Body Mass Index Trajectories from Adolescence to Early Adulthood

Abstract

This study combines multiple-hierarchy stratification and life course perspectives to address two research questions critical to understanding U.S. young adult health. First, to what extent are racial-ethnic inequalities in body mass index (BMI) gendered and/or classed? Second, do racial-ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic inequalities in BMI widen or persist between adolescence and early adulthood? Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort and growth curve models, results suggest that among white, black, and Hispanic American men and women ages 13 to 31, racial-ethnic inequality in BMI is greatest among women. Black women experience the highest adolescent BMI and the greatest increases in BMI with age. Furthermore, socioeconomic resources are less protective against weight gain for blacks and Hispanics, with the nature of these relationships varying by gender. Findings present a more nuanced picture of health inequality that renders visible the disproportionate burden of poor health experienced by marginalized groups.

Keywords: body mass index; intersectionality; life course; population health; race.

Figure 1.. Age-trajectories of BMI from 13–31 by Race-ethnicity and Gender, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort, Waves 1–15 (N = 7, 205)

Note: Figure 1 is based on Model 1 in Table 3.

Figure 2.. Age-trajectories of BMI by Race-ethnicity and Parental Wealth among Men, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort, Waves 1–15 (N = 3, 711)

Note: Figure 2 is based on Model 3 in Table 3. 25% indicates individuals at the 25^th percentile of the parental wealth distribution, and 50% and 75% represent those at the 50^th and 75^th percentile, respectively. For the sake of concision, only trajectories for white and Hispanic men are displayed. Results indicated that parental wealth similarly affected BMI trajectories for white and black men.

Figure 3.. Age-trajectories of BMI by Race-ethnicity and Parental Wealth among Women, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort, Waves 1–15 (N = 3, 494)

Note: Figure 3 is based on Model 3 in Table 3. 25% indicates individuals at the 25^th percentile of the parental wealth distribution, and 50% and 75% represent those at the 50^th and 75^th percentile, respectively. For the sake of concision, only one line is shown for white women at all levels of wealth. Results indicated that the intercepts and age slopes did not differ by level of parental wealth among white women.