Abstract

This review assessed obesity patterns, physical activity (PA) levels, and dietary habits among LGBTQ adults aged 18 years and older. The research was systematically reviewed using PRISMA guidelines. Four combinations of keywords were used to extract articles from research databases. Articles were included if they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of nineteen articles were included with seventeen studies focused on sexual minorities (i.e., LB = 7, L-only = 3, LB and questioning = 2, LGB = 3, LGBT =1, and GB men and MSM =1). Only two studies were conducted among gender minorities. All studies, except four, had non-experimental designs. Experimental studies assessed the effectiveness of five weight-related interventions (duration = 12 to 16 weeks) and included weekly educational sessions. Instruments used to assess study variables were either indirect (i.e., obesity) or self-reported (i.e., PA and dietary habits). BMI and WHtR ranged from 26.35 to 40.6 and 0.58 to 0.71, respectively. LGBTQ adults, except lesbians residing in urban areas, were less likely to meet PA recommendations (n = 8 non-experimental studies) and incorporate fruits and vegetables in their diets (n = 8 non-experimental studies). Mindfulness, gym-based programs, and pedometer-based programs were effective in improving overweight and obesity status, PA level, and fruit and vegetable consumption among LB adults. Future studies should focus on transgender individuals and assess various dietary variables to provide an overall analysis of their behaviors. Research should examine the effectiveness of interventions that incorporate group-based educational sessions and utilize self-regulatory skills to address weight issues, physical inactivity, and unhealthy dietary habits.