Citation
Prestemon, Carmen E.; Grummon, Anna H.; Rummo, Pasquale E.; & Taillie, Lindsey Smith (2022). Differences in Dietary Quality by Sexual Orientation and Sex in the US: NHANES 2011-2016. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122(5), 918-931. PMCID: PMC9038656Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are persistent disparities in weight- and diet-related diseases by sexual orientation. Lesbian and bisexual females have a higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease compared to heterosexual females. Gay and bisexual males have a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease compared to heterosexual males. However, it remains unknown how sexual orientation groups differ in their dietary quality.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether dietary quality differs by sexual orientation and sex among US adults.
DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 24-h dietary recall data from a nationally representative sample of adults aged 20-65 participating in the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Study participants were adults (n=8,851) with complete information on dietary intake, sexual orientation, and sex.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were daily energy intake from 20 specific food and beverage groups and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores for sexual orientation groups (heterosexual vs. gay/lesbian/bisexual (GLB)).
STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Ordinary least squares regressions were used to calculate adjusted means for each food and beverage group and HEI-2015, stratified by sex and controlling for covariates (e.g., age, race/ethnicity) and survey cycles (2011-2012; 2013-2014; 2015-2016).
RESULTS: Among males, red and processed meat/poultry/seafood (p=0.01) and sandwiches (p=0.02) were smaller contributors to energy intake for gay/bisexual males compared to heterosexual males. Among females, cereals (p=0.04) and mixed dishes (p=0.02) were smaller contributors to energy intake for lesbian/bisexual females compared to heterosexual females. Gay/bisexual males had significantly higher total HEI-2015 scores than heterosexual males (53.40 ± 1.36 vs. 49.29 ± 0.32, difference=4.14, p=0.004). Lesbian/bisexual females did not differ in total or component HEI-2015 scores from heterosexual females.
CONCLUSIONS: While GLB groups were similar for a variety of dietary outcomes compared to heterosexual groups, gay and bisexual males displayed healthier dietary quality for processed meat (by consuming smaller amounts) and overall dietary quality (according to HEI-2015) compared to heterosexual males.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.12.005Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2022Journal Title
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAuthor(s)
Prestemon, Carmen E.Grummon, Anna H.
Rummo, Pasquale E.
Taillie, Lindsey Smith