Relationship Between Sexual Orientation, BMI, and Methamphetamine Use Among Youth in Chicago

Running head: STUDY PROPOSAL
Study Proposal
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1STUDY PROPOSAL
Introduction
The following research proposal aims towards identifying the relationship between
the sexual orientation and the body mass index along with the use of Methamphetamine
among the youth of Chicago. In order to establish the relationship, the author will conduct a
quantitative cross-sectional study by the use of the secondary data.
Numerous study conducted so far have helped in the establishment of the fact that
bisexual men or gays are more likely to become victims of Methamphetamine intoxication in
comparison to the heterosexual male. This helped to realise that there is a relationship
between sexual orientation and the use of Methamphetamine. The relationship was found to
be significant among the homosexual males in comparison to the homosexual females.
However, no studies have been conducted so far in order to determine whether the sexual
orientation influences the relationships between the BMI and the use of Methamphetamine
(Flentje, Heck, & Sorensen, 2015).
Chicago has been found to score highest reported cases of methamphetamine use and
obesity among the youth in comparison to the other states in USA like New York, Los
Angeles as per the reports published by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]
(2018). Moreover, CDC also reports that methamphetamine use is higher among the youth
residing in Chicago in comparison to the other metropolitan states of USA like New York
and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami-Dade Country. Gearhardt, Waller, Jester, Hyde
and Zucker (2018) reported that obesity and addiction towards drugs of substance abuse leads
to brain dysfunction leading to decrease in the quality of life, poor academic performance and
increase vulnerability of developing chronic diseases. Thus, in order to improve the overall
health quality of life of the youth and to reduce the health inequalities among the sexual
minority population, it is important to conduct this research. The evaluated results will help in

2STUDY PROPOSAL
framing of the population specific policies directed towards the sexual minority population
and thereby helping to overcome their increased BMI and substance abuse. Friedman et al.
(2014) highlighted that policies directed towards the homosexuals or the sexual minority
people will help to promote their health-related empowerment and thus helping to lead them a
healthy life. Friedman et al. (2014) highlighted that bisexuals or homosexuals men and
women in USA experiences health-related disparities in comparison to the heterosexual
males and females. Moreover, bisexual and homosexual individuals often experience
stigmatization, prejudice and discrimination coming from gay, lesbian and other straight
communities like biphobia. There are limited policies directed towards the improvement in
the health related quality of life of the homosexual and bisexual individuals, this conduction
of this research might prove to be helpful for bringing change in their health status.
Background
Two most challenging health problems in America at present are obesity and
substance abuse among the youth (Barry & Petry, 2009). One of the important drug that gains
popularity in the domain of substance abuse of Methamphetamine. This illicit drug is highly
addictive to the central nervous system and is usually administered intravenously, snorted,
smoked or consumed orally [National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2018]. The youth of
Chicago are comparatively more addicted towards this drugs and suffer from high BMI than
other metropolitan cities of the USA. There is a relationship between the obesity and
substance abuse. Gearhardt, Waller, Jester, Hyde and Zucker (2018) reported that obesity or
high BMI among the young adults or adolescents is associated with lower illicit drug use
during their early childhood. The study of Huang, Lanza, and Anglin (2013) highlighted a
complex relationship between the obesity or BMI and the use of drug, methamphetamine.
However, none of the studies conducted so far have helped in gaining a detailed insight about