TABLE 3.
Prevalence of Chronic Disease Risk Behaviors and Their Associations With Sexual Orientation, by Gender: Washington Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2003–2006
| Men |
Women |
|||||||
| Indicator and Sexual Orientation | No. | Prevalence,% (95% CI) | AORa (95% CI) | P | No. | Prevalence,% (95% CI) | AORa (95% CI) | P |
| Overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) | ||||||||
| Heterosexual (Ref) | 29 708 | 23.5 (22.9, 24.2) | 1.00 | 44 297 | 22.3 (21.8, 22.8) | 1.00 | ||
| Gay or lesbian | 494 | 14.2 (10.9, 18.2) | 0.6 (0.4, 0.8) | < .001 | 572 | 28.8 (24.3, 33.7) | 1.6 (1.3, 2.0) | < .001 |
| Bisexual | 229 | 20.6 (14.3, 28.7) | 0.9 (0.6, 1.4) | .5 | 529 | 29.7 (24.9, 35.0) | 1.6 (1.2, 2.0) | .001 |
| Heavy drinkingb | ||||||||
| Heterosexual (Ref) | 29 543 | 5.0 (4.7, 5.4) | 1.00 | 46 937 | 5.1 (4.8, 5.3) | 1.00 | ||
| Gay or lesbian | 490 | 5.8 (3.5, 9.5) | 1.2 (0.7, 2.1) | .44 | 586 | 9.2 (6.3, 13.1) | 1.8 (1.2, 2.7) | .004 |
| Bisexual | 233 | 10.8 (5.6, 19.6) | 2.0 (1.0, 4.1) | .05 | 550 | 13.5 (9.9, 18.2) | 2.9 (2.0, 4.1) | < .001 |
| Current smoking | ||||||||
| Heterosexual (Ref) | 29 978 | 19.2 (18.5, 19.8) | 1.00 | 47 250 | 16.6 (16.1, 17.0) | 1.00 | ||
| Gay or lesbian | 495 | 29.5 (24.4, 35.2) | 2.2 (1.6, 2.9) | < .001 | 583 | 29.8 (25.0, 35.1) | 2.4 (1.8, 3.2) | < .001 |
| Bisexual | 234 | 38.7 (29.5, 48.8) | 2.3 (1.6, 3.3) | < .001 | 555 | 38.1 (32.9, 43.6) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.2) | < .001 |
| Insufficient physical activity (work and leisure combined)c | ||||||||
| Heterosexual (Ref) | 14 175 | 32.7 (31.7, 33.8) | 1.00 | 21 691 | 39.6 (38.8, 40.5) | 1.00 | ||
| Gay or lesbian | 255 | 32.5 (25.5, 40.4) | 1.0 (0.7, 1.5) | .80 | 274 | 38.1 (30.8, 46.0) | 1.1 (0.8, 1.5) | .53 |
| Bisexual | 114 | 43.9 (31.8, 56.8) | 1.9 (1.1, 3.4) | .02 | 259 | 34.8 (27.9, 42.5) | 1.0 (0.7, 1.4) | .93 |
| Insufficient fruits and vegetablescd | ||||||||
| Heterosexual (Ref) | 14 957 | 81.4 (80.6, 82.2) | 1.00 | 23 026 | 70.4 (69.6, 71.2) | 1.00 | ||
| Gay or lesbian | 261 | 74.9 (67.5, 81.1) | 0.7 (0.5, 1.0) | .07 | 285 | 70.6 (62.7, 77.5) | 1.1 (0.7, 1.5) | .73 |
| Bisexual | 120 | 77.0 (66.1, 85.2) | 0.7 (0.4, 1.2) | .16 | 265 | 76.7 (69.8, 82.3) | 1.2 (0.8, 1.7) | .34 |
Note. AOR = adjusted odds ratio; CI = confidence interval; BMI = body mass index. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
a
From a logistic model that includes sexual orientation, age, and education (less than high school, high school/general equivalency diploma, some college, college graduate).
b
Defined as 2 or more drinks per day for men and 1 or more per day for women.
c
Questions were asked only in 2003 and 2005.
d
Defined as less than 5 times per day.