The Relationship between Social Network Body Size and the Body Size Norms of Black and Hispanic Adults

Objective: To examine the relationship between the body size norms of Black and Hispanic adults and the body sizes of their social network members.

Methods: Egocentric network data were examined for 245 adults recruited from 2012-2013 in New York City. A multivariable regression model was used to examine the relationship between participants' perception of normal body size and the body sizes of their network members adjusted for participant age, education, race/ethnicity and network size. Participants' body size norms were also examined stratified by the following characteristics of obese network members: frequency of contact, living proximity, relationship, and importance of relationship.

Results: Index participants were 89% female with mean body mass index 33.5 kg/m². There were 2,571 network members identified (31% overweight, 10% obese). In the fully adjusted multivariable model, perception of normal body size increased as the number of network members with obesity increased (p<0.01). Larger body size norms were associated with increased frequency of contact with obese network members (p=0.04), and obese members living in the home (p=0.049).

Conclusions: These findings support a relationship between the body size norms of Black and Hispanic adults and their social network body size.