Sufficiently and insufficiently active lesbian, bisexual, and questioning female college students: sociodemographic factors among two age cohorts

Abstract

Background: As rates of inactivity in the United States increase, the proportion of adults who are overweight in the United States continues to grow with concurrent increases in risk of weight-related morbidity and mortality. Sparse data are available on physical activity and weight in college-age sexual minority females, and none examine this relationship by age. To address this gap, we examined two age cohorts of female college students who self-identified as lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (LBQ), to 1) explore the relationship between physical activity, weight, and sociodemographic factors and 2) identify characteristics associated with sufficient physical activity in college females.

Methods: Data were from the 2010 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment survey. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to describe LBQ college women by age cohort (≤23 years, typical age vs. ≥24 years, mature age) and physical activity level (sufficiently active vs. insufficiently active). Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals from logistic regression were used to estimate the likelihood of meeting the physical activity guidelines.

Findings: Only one out of three LBQ college women report meeting the national physical activity guidelines. Characteristics of typical age and mature age LBQ college women varied by physical activity level. In a logistic regression model of LBQ college women, two characteristics increased the likelihood of being sufficiently activity: Reporting very good/excellent health and self-describing as "about the right weight." Three characteristics decreased the likelihood: Self-describing as "very overweight," reporting action taken toward weight as "do nothing," and current smoking.

Conclusions: With only one out of three LBQ college women meeting the national physical activity guidelines, interventions to increase physical activity, improve fitness, and potentially reduce unhealthy weight gain must start early to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with inactivity.