Obesity and Bisexuality: Is Being ‘Bi’ an Issue?

Abstract

This chapter addresses obesity and bisexual sexual orientation. We support the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) recommendations that sexual attraction or arousal; sexual behavior and contact; and sexual identity, be included in federal surveys to include bisexuals in research. We review some of the eleven surveys that collect data on sexual orientation focusing on bisexual orientation and obesity. We found that bisexuals with female sexual orientation, are more likely to have obesity. Such obesity may be related more to intersectionality of sexual orientation with other health related factors (marriage, education, employment, and race and ethnicity). We next analyzed BRFSS 2020 SOGI data using weighted analyses to examine the relationship between bisexuality and obesity. Findings using five models found limited significant differences among sexual orientation categories and BMI categories. Greater percentages of lesbians had obesity than bisexual females, but lesbians and bisexual females had more obesity compared to straight females. Bisexual males who are Black are significantly less likely to have obesity. Other analyses reflected the intersectionality of sexual orientation minority status with lower education levels, less employment for wages, and lower likelihood of excellent health.