Abstract P226: Lifetime Discrimination And Weight Change: The Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Abstract

Introduction: Discrimination is a stressor often coped with through unhealthy behavioral responses that can lead to weight gain. Given that discrimination can be experienced by many different social groups, there is greater need to understand the role of discrimination and weight gain across racial and gender groups. This study assessed whether perceived lifetime discriminatory experiences are associated with weight and weight gain longitudinally among Black and White adults. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that greater self-reported perceptions of discrimination will be associated with greater weight and weight gain longitudinally, with greater lifetime discriminatory experiences among women and Black participants. Methods: Data from 2,906 adults (40.2 years of age; 45.2% Black; 56.8% female; 184.2 lbs.; 12.8% endorsing 3 or more domains of lifetime discrimination) from 2000-2001 (year 15) of the CARDIA study were included. Linear regression was used to examine the association between discrimination and weight cross-sectionally, and weight change between years 15 and 30 (2015-2016). Results: Black men (50.8%) and women (41.6%) reported racial discrimination as the most common form of discrimination they experienced (endorsed 3 or more domains), while White men (6.4%) and women (25.4%) reported SES and gender-discrimination as the most common form of discrimination they experienced, respectively. Racial and SES-discrimination were positively associated with weight, whereas racial-, gender-, SES-, or total lifetime discrimination were not associated with weight change (Table). Conclusion: Higher racial and class-based discrimination experiences were associated with higher weight, while longitudinal findings did not support our hypotheses. Given the more common experiences of perceived discrimination among women and Black participants, continued longitudinal studies into the pathways by which discrimination leads to weight gain in these groups early in life is vital.