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Associations between social connections, their interactions, and obesity differ by gender: A population-based, cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

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  • Zeinab Hosseini
  • Gerry Veenstra
  • Nadia A Khan
  • Annalijn I Conklin

Abstract

Objectives: To quantify the link between four different types of social ties and objective measures of abdominal and general obesity, and to explore their inter-relationships in association with obesity using a gender-sensitive analysis. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 28,238 adults (45–85 years) from the baseline Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Comprehensive cohort (2012–15). Social ties (marital status, living arrangement, social network size, and social participation) and measured anthropometry (body mass index, waist circumference) were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models with interaction terms conditioned on known confounders. Results: We found that being single, widowed or divorced/separated was associated with worse anthropometric outcomes in women, including higher odds of both abdominal and general obesity, and that associations were enhanced when combined with limited social participation, lone-living and greater social network size. Few clear associations were observed in men. Limited social participation (no social activities at least once/month) among women was associated with larger waist circumference (+4.19 cm [95% CI: 1.86, 6.52]) and higher odds of both abdominal and general obesity. By contrast, associations appeared to be reversed in men: lone-living and smaller social networks were associated with lower odds of obesity, compared to co-living and larger social networks. We also found that more regular social participation can potentially mitigate the adverse associations between non-partnership (single, divorced) and obesity in women. Overall, the combined influence of two types of social tie deficits on excess weight measures was more pronounced in women than men. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of considering how the role of social ties for obesity prevention may differ for women and men. Frequent social participation and number of social contacts may matter for assessing whether divorced, single or lone-living older women are at risk of obesity while living arrangement and social contacts may matter for obesity in men.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeinab Hosseini & Gerry Veenstra & Nadia A Khan & Annalijn I Conklin, 2020. "Associations between social connections, their interactions, and obesity differ by gender: A population-based, cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0235977
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235977
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Verena H Menec & Nancy E Newall & Corey S Mackenzie & Shahin Shooshtari & Scott Nowicki, 2019. "Examining individual and geographic factors associated with social isolation and loneliness using Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
    3. Annalijn I Conklin & Ninez A Ponce & John Frank & Arijit Nandi & Jody Heymann, 2016. "Minimum Wage and Overweight and Obesity in Adult Women: A Multilevel Analysis of Low and Middle Income Countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, March.
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    1. Purushotham, Anjali & Aiyar, Anaka & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan, 2023. "Processed foods, socio-economic status, and peri-urban obesity in India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).

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