Abstract
Environmental stressors, such as perceived discrimination (PD), are linked to Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The current study investigated the association between PD and BED among African Americans, and the variation in such an association based on gender. Data of the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001–2003, with a nationally-representative sample of African American adults, were used (n = 3516). The independent variable in the study was PD. The dependent variable was BED, measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Socio-demographics (age, education, employment, and marital status) were covariates, and gender was the moderator variable. Survey logistic regressions with and without gender × PD interaction terms were used for data analysis. In the pooled sample, PD was associated with higher odds of BED, net of socio-demographic factors. Models also showed a significant gender × PD interaction term suggesting a stronger association between PD and BED for women, compared to men. Gender specific models showed an association between PD and BED among female, but not male, African Americans. Although a link may exist between PD and BED among African Americans, the magnitude of this association depends on gender, with a stronger association among females than males. This finding is in line with the literature that has shown gender-specific consequences of environmental stress for African Americans.
Highlights
With the current epidemics, obesity is one of the most pressing national public health challenges in the United States (US) [1,2,3,4]
This study included 3516 African Americans who identified as male (n = 1271) or female (n = 2299)
While perceived discrimination (PD) was associated with higher odds of Binge Eating Disorder (BED), a stronger association was found for female, compared to male, African Americans
Summary
Obesity is one of the most pressing national public health challenges in the United States (US) [1,2,3,4]. BED is correlated with obesity in low socioeconomic status African American women [24] Environmental stressors such as perceived discrimination (PD) are causally linked to binge eating [24,25,26,27,28,29,30] and BED [31,32,33,34]. In line with the other observed gender differences in BED and associated obesity [36,37,38,39], environmental stressors, such as PD, may differently contribute to BED for African American males and females [34,40,41]. America women [52,53]
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