RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY AND OBESITY IN A SAMPLE OF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is greater for racial minorities even in older adults. The present study evaluated whether there were racial differences in the association between childhood diversity (CA), perceived racial discrimination (PRD), and BMI in a racially-diverse nationally-representative sample of older adults. We used the data from the 2012–2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III; N=11,404 who are 55 years and older) that included self-reported height and weight, adverse life experiences before 18 years old, and past year experiences with racial discrimination. General linear models were performed stratifying by race (non-Hispanic White (NHW; n=7337), non-Hispanic Black (NHB; n=1960), and Hispanic (n=1249)). The prevalence of CA and PRD was significantly greater in NHB (63.6% and 29.8%, respectively) and Hispanic (61.2% and 15.9%, respectively), relative to NHW (53.1% and 4.6%, respectively). Across race/ethnicity, CA was associated with significantly greater odds of reporting PRD. Adjusting for sociodemographic and health risk factors (12-month stressful life events, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, major depression, and sleep disorders), PRD was associated with increased BMI in NHW. In Hispanic, there was a CA-by-PRD interaction on BMI. Those without CA but with PRD reported the highest BMI, followed by those with both CA and PRD; BMI was the lowest for Hispanic without CA or PRD. CA and PRD were not significantly associated with BMI in NHB. Our findings highlights the importance of screening for CA and PRD as psychosocial risks factors for obesity among middle age and older adults, particularly for NHW and Hispanic.