Food Insecurity, Sexual Risk, and Substance Use in Young Adults.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between food insecurity, sexual risk behaviors, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and substance use in a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional nationally representative data of U.S. young adults aged 24-32 years from Wave IV (2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted with food insecurity as the independent variable and self-reported STIs, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use as the dependent variables, adjusting for covariates and stratifying by sex. RESULTS: Of the 14,786 young adults in the sample, 14% of young women and 9% of young men were food insecure. Food-insecure young women had greater odds of any STI, HIV, chlamydia, exchanging sex for money, and multiple concurrent sex partners in the past 12 months compared to young women reporting food security, adjusting for covariates. Food insecurity was associated with higher odds of any STI, chlamydia, and exchanging sex for money among young men who identify as gay or bisexual, but not in the general population of young men. Food insecurity was associated with greater odds of marijuana use, methamphetamine use, and nonmedical use of prescription opioids, sedatives, and stimulants in both young men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity is associated with risk behaviors and self-reported STIs, including HIV, in young adulthood. Health care providers should screen for food insecurity in young adults and provide referrals when appropriate.

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors among women: Associations with sexual risk.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors and sexual risk in young women. METHOD: We used prospective cohort data of young women ages 18-26 years from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 5,899). Exposures of interest (at 18-26 years) included a self-reported eating disorder diagnosis or disordered eating behaviors including fasting/skipping meals, vomiting, diet pills, or laxative/diuretic use to lose weight and binge eating. Sexual risk outcomes at 7-year follow-up included the number of new sexual partners, condom use, and sexually transmitted infections. RESULTS: Having either an eating disorder or reporting any disordered eating behavior was associated with a greater number of new sexual partners (B = 1.09, 95% CI [0.18, 2.00]) and lower odds of condom use (odds ratio 0.70, 95% CI [0.53, 0.94] among a subsample of sexually active, unmarried women). DISCUSSION: Young women with eating disorders or who engage in disordered eating behaviors are at higher risk for multiple new sexual partners and unprotected sex. Clinicians caring for young adults with eating disorders may consider screening for sexual risk behaviors.

Differential Risk Factors for Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors by Sex and Weight Status Among U.S. Adolescents.

PURPOSE: To determine if previously reported risk factors for the development of unhealthy weight control behaviors differ by sex and weight status using a nationally representative longitudinal sample of adolescents followed through young adulthood. METHODS: We used nationally representative longitudinal cohort data collected from baseline (11-18 years old, 1994-1995, Wave I) and seven-year follow-up (18-24 years old, 2001-2002, Wave III) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). We examined potential risk factors (adverse childhood events and adolescent family, school, body image, and mental health factors) for the development of unhealthy weight control behaviors including vomiting, fasting/skipping meals, or laxative/diuretic use to lose weight at seven-year follow-up in young adulthood. RESULTS: Of the 14,322 included subjects, 11% reported unhealthy weight control behavior at follow-up in young adulthood, with the highest proportion (23.7%) among overweight/obese females and the lowest proportion (3.7%) among underweight/normal weight males. All adolescent family factors were significantly associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors in underweight/normal weight females, whereas none were significantly associated in overweight/obese males. Similar trends were noted for adverse childhood events, and adolescent school and community factors. Adolescent self-perception of being overweight was associated with young adult unhealthy weight control behaviors among all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for unhealthy weight control behaviors may differ based on sex and weight status. Screening, prevention, and treatment interventions for unhealthy weight control behaviors in adolescents and young adults may need to be tailored based on sex and weight status.

Prevalence and Correlates of Disordered Eating Behaviors Among Young Adults with Overweight or Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Clinical and community samples indicate that eating disorders (EDs) and disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) may co-occur among adolescents and young adults at a weight status classified as overweight or obese. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of EDs and DEBs among young adults at a weight status classified as overweight or obese using a nationally representative sample and to characterize differences in prevalence by sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional nationally representative data collected from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). PARTICIPANTS: Young adults ages 18-24 years old. MAIN MEASURES: ED diagnosis and DEBs (self-reported binge eating or unhealthy weight control behaviors including vomiting, fasting/skipping meals, or laxative/diuretic use to lose weight). Covariates: age, sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, weight status, and education. KEY RESULTS: Of the 14,322 young adults in the sample, 48.6% were at a weight status classified as overweight or obese. Compared to young adults at a weight status classified as underweight or normal weight, those at a weight status classified as overweight or obese reported a higher rate of DEBs (29.3 vs 15.8% in females, 15.4 vs 7.5% in males). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that odds of engaging in DEBs were 2.32 (95% confidence interval 2.05-2.61) times higher for females compared to males; 1.66 (1.23-2.24) times higher for Asian/Pacific Islander compared to White; 1.62 (1.16-2.26) times higher for homosexual or bisexual compared to heterosexual; 1.26 (1.09-1.44) times higher for high school or less versus more than high school education; and 2.45 (2.16-2.79) times higher for obesity compared to normal weight, adjusting for all covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of DEBs particularly in young adults at a weight status classified as overweight or obese underscores the need for screening, referrals, and tailored interventions for DEBs in this population.