How Incarceration Influences Native-Born Black Men's Risk of Obesity.

OBJECTIVE

To build upon research that investigates the health significance of familial and former incarceration with special emphasis on obesity risk among native-born Black (ie, African American) men.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2001-2003 National Survey of American Life (NSAL), focusing on native-born Black men (n=1140), the demographic group that bears the brunt of mass incarceration. The outcome of interest was obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI)>30. Principal predictors were familial and former incarceration, and their statistical interaction.

RESULTS

In survey-adjusted binomial logistic regression models, familial incarceration appeared an unimportant predictor; whereas, former incarceration associated with a lower risk of obesity. However, former incarceration modifies the association between familial incarceration and obesity, such that native-born Black men experiencing both familial and former incarceration were significantly more likely to be obese.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health researchers should treat former incarceration with greater care in studies including native-born Black men because time spent incarcerated has lingering physical health significance.