Young adults’ BMI and changes in romantic relationship status during the first semester of college

Irene Van Woerden,Alexandra Brewis,Marc A Adams,Meg Bruening,Daniel Hruschka,Genevieve Dunton,David Meyre

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230806

Irene Van Woerden, Alexandra Brewis + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230806

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Abstract

PurposeIdentify how higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight discrimination are associated with romantic relationship formation and termination in young adults, and if the association was consistent for males and females.MethodsFirst-year students (N = 1096) at entry to university (Time 1) provided BMI and self-reports of weight discrimination and romantic relationship status (in a relationship vs single); 550 were successfully resampled four months later (Time 2). Logistic generalized estimating equations (GEEs) examined if Time 1 relationship status was predicted by BMI and weight discrimination. Logistic GEEs were used to determine if Time 1 BMI and weight discrimination predicted Time 2 relationship status for the strata of students in, and out, of a relationship at Time 1.ResultsAt baseline, students were less likely to be in a relationship if they had a higher BMI (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.92, 0.96) or reported weight discrimination (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53, 0.90). When stratified by gender, the association between higher BMI and weight discrimination with relationship status was only observed for females. Longitudinally, a BMI-based selection effect was observed for romantic relationship formation, but not termination. Of the students who were single at Time 1, each one unit higher baseline BMI decreased the odds of the student transitioning to a relationship by 9% at Time 2 (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85, 0.96). When stratified by gender the association of higher BMI decreased odds of relationship formation was only significant for females. No weight discrimination differences for selection in or out of a romantic relationship were observed.ConclusionsThese findings suggest a weight-related selection effect for romantic relationship initiation, but not termination, in young female adults with lower BMIs. Weight discrimination was not associated with romantic relationship initiation or termination in this sample.

Highlights

Body size can shape social experiences and prospects, including romantic relationships [1,2,3,4]
Students were less likely to be in a relationship if they had a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.92, 0.96) or reported weight discrimination (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53, 0.90)
The association between higher BMI and weight discrimination with relationship status was only observed for females

Summary

Introduction

Body size can shape social experiences and prospects, including romantic relationships [1,2,3,4]. Research suggests that adolescents and young adults with an overweight weight status are less likely to be married seven years later [4]. It is less clear how weight affects entry into (and exit from) relationships in adolescence and early adulthood prior to marriage decisions. Studies indicate female undergraduate students with an overweight weight status (BMI 25) are less likely to be seen as a desirable partner [2] or to be in a relationship [12] than their female counterparts without an overweight weight status. One study concluded that there was no difference in BMI by undergraduate male college students who were, and were not, dating [12]. Another study asked undergraduate students to rank the desirability of a range of hypothetical potential sexual partners, both students with and without an overweight weight status stated that their lowest preference was for a person with obesity [14]; male students considered a potential partner with obesity as even less desirable than female students did [14]

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