Direct and indirect associations of experience of racial discrimination, dietary patterns and obesity in adults from southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the direct and indirect associations of experience of racial discrimination on dietary patterns (DP), obesity and abdominal obesity.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional population-based study. The main exposure was self-reported experiences of racial discrimination (Experiences of Discrimination scale). The mediator variables were the DP: healthy, Brazilian traditional, sugar and carbohydrates, and fast food. The outcomes were obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 88 cm for women; ≥ 102 cm for men). Structural equation modelling was applied.

SETTING

Porto Alegre, Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS

Totally, 400 adults aged between 20 and 70 years were participated.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 47·2 years (sd = 13·9), and 75 % were women. Experiencing racial discrimination had a positive direct effect on obesity (healthy DP: = 0·153, < 0·05; Brazilian DP: = 0·156, < 0·05; sugar and carbohydrates DP: = 0·156, < 0·05; and fast-food DP: = 0·153, < 0·05) and abdominal obesity (healthy DP: = 0·206, < 0·01; Brazilian DP: = 0·210, < 0·01; sugar and carbohydrates DP: = 0·204, < 0·01; and fast-food DP: = 0·204, < 0·01). The experience of racial discrimination did not have a direct effect on DP, nor did it exert an indirect effect on obesity and abdominal obesity through any DP.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher experience of racial discrimination is associated with obesity and abdominal obesity, independent of diet.