%0 Journal Article %J Annals of Behavioral Medicine: a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine %D 2020 %T Dyadic Associations Between Body Mass Index and the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Romantic Couples: Results From the Health and Retirement Study %A Burns, Rachel J %K actor-partner interdependence model %K Body Mass Index %K dyads %K type 2 diabetes %X Body mass index (BMI) is linked to Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although romantic partners influence each other's health outcomes, it is unclear if partner's BMI is related to the development of T2D.To test prospective, dyadic associations between BMI and the development of T2D in middle-aged and older adult couples over 8 years.Data came from 950 couples in the Health and Retirement Study. Neither partner had diabetes at baseline (2006). The actor–partner interdependence model was used to examine dyadic associations between BMI at baseline and the development of T2D during the next 8 years.After adjusting for covariates, a significant actor effect was observed such that one's BMI at baseline was positively associated with one's own odds of developing T2D during follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, p \< .001). A significant partner effect was also observed such that the BMI of one's partner at baseline was positively associated with one's own odds of developing T2D during follow-up above and beyond one's own baseline BMI (OR = 1.0 %B Annals of Behavioral Medicine: a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine %V 54 %P 291-296 %G eng %N 4 %9 Journal %R 10.1093/abm/kaz042