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(2)) 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 472 years (SD = 139), and 75 % were women. Experiencing racial discrimination had a positive direct effect on obesity (healthy DP: beta = 0153, P < 005; Brazilian DP: beta = 0156, P < 005; sugar and carbohydrates DP: beta = 0156, P < 005; and fast-food DP: beta = 0153, P < 005) and abdominal obesity (healthy DP: beta = 0206, P < 001; Brazilian DP: beta = 0210, P < 001; sugar and carbohydrates DP: beta = 0204, P < 001; and fast-food DP: beta = 0204, P < 001). 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.