title: Risk of the Metabolic Syndrome in Sexual Minority Women: Results from the ESTHER Study.
abstract: Compared to heterosexuals, sexual minority women (SMW) have higher rates of the metabolic syndrome risk factors (e.g., obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, and depression). Yet, no published research has examined whether SMW have higher rates of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual factors in a sample of heterosexuals and SMW, and identify whether SMW are at greater risk of having the metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  
  Data are from the Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk in Women (ESTHER), a cross-sectional convenience sample of 479 SMW and 400 heterosexual women from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Participants provided self-report questionnaire data, clinical data, and blood work.
  
  
  
  Compared to heterosexuals, SMW had higher mean waist circumference, fasting glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Nearly one-quarter (24.3%) of SMW had the metabolic syndrome compared to 15.6% of heterosexual women (p = 0.002). After controlling for demographic and risk factors, SMW had a 44% higher risk of having the metabolic syndrome than heterosexuals (p = 0.031).
  
  
  
  To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify this health disparity in SMW. Future studies should explore differential risk of mortality and metabolic health between SMW and heterosexuals.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinsky
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stall
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawk
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Public Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health