TY - JOUR
T1 - Weight-related issues and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students
AU - Eisenberg, Marla E.
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
AU - Lust, Katherine D.
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Individuals with high body mass index (BMI), negative body image, and unhealthy weight control behaviors may be more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors than others. Researchers have not fully investigated these relationships in a sample of college students. The authors collected data regarding several weight-related issues and high-risk sexual behaviors (response rate = 39%) from 1,168 college students. Over half reported at least 1 high-risk sexual behavior. After the authors controlled for several demographic characteristics, they found that higher BMIs were associated with increased odds of having a casual sexual partner (odds ratio [OR] = 2.70) and being intoxicated at last intercourse (OR = 2.25). Among women, unhealthy weight control behaviors were associated with having a casual partner (OR = 2.12), using no or unreliable contraception (OR = 1.98), and being intoxicated at last intercourse (OR = 2.31). Weight-related issues were not associated with sexual behaviors among college men. The authors describe their findings within two health behavior frameworks, and they discuss implications for research and health education.
AB - Individuals with high body mass index (BMI), negative body image, and unhealthy weight control behaviors may be more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors than others. Researchers have not fully investigated these relationships in a sample of college students. The authors collected data regarding several weight-related issues and high-risk sexual behaviors (response rate = 39%) from 1,168 college students. Over half reported at least 1 high-risk sexual behavior. After the authors controlled for several demographic characteristics, they found that higher BMIs were associated with increased odds of having a casual sexual partner (odds ratio [OR] = 2.70) and being intoxicated at last intercourse (OR = 2.25). Among women, unhealthy weight control behaviors were associated with having a casual partner (OR = 2.12), using no or unreliable contraception (OR = 1.98), and being intoxicated at last intercourse (OR = 2.31). Weight-related issues were not associated with sexual behaviors among college men. The authors describe their findings within two health behavior frameworks, and they discuss implications for research and health education.
KW - Body image
KW - College health
KW - Sexual behavior
KW - Unhealthy weight control
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=26944478945&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=26944478945&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3200/JACH.54.2.95-101
DO - 10.3200/JACH.54.2.95-101
M3 - Article
C2 - 16255321
AN - SCOPUS:26944478945
VL - 54
SP - 95
EP - 101
JO - Journal of American College Health
JF - Journal of American College Health
SN - 0744-8481
IS - 2
ER -