Exploring Body Composition and Sexual Behavior in South Texas College Students

In this exploratory study, we examined the understudied relationship between body composition and sexual behavior among freshmen college students, addressing a gap in empirical research. Our sample consisted of 217 nonclinical college students recruited from a university in the southwestern United States; a majority of the students were Hispanic (70%) and freshmen (95%). Using multivariate logistic regression, we explored associations of body mass index, body fat percentage, and fat mass index with sexual behaviors. More than half of the participants were either overweight (22.5%) or obese (30.4%), and nearly 70% fell outside the healthy range of body fat. Results showed that greater body mass index, body fat percentage, and fat mass index were associated with a decreased likelihood of recent sexual activity, defined as any mutually consensual activity with another person involving sexual contact, regardless of whether intercourse or orgasm occurs. However, the results were not significantly associated with recent sexual intercourse. Among sexually active participants, greater body mass index, body fat percentage, and fat mass index were linked to lower protection use (i.e., condom use) at the last occurrence of sexual intercourse. While increased body weight and body fat may act as deterrents to sexual activity, they conversely elevated the risk of engaging in unprotected sex among those who had sexual intercourse in the past 6 months. Thus, there is a pressing need for tailored health interventions targeting body composition in this demographic to promote healthy sexual behaviors and mitigate potential risks associated with unsafe sexual practices.