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April 12, 2007

Gay men at higher risk for eating disorders

A new study of New York City residents shows that gay and bisexual men may be at a much higher risk for eating disorders than heterosexual men, reports Reuters.com.

Yet lesbian and bisexual women and their heterosexual counterparts are equally affected by eating disorders.

Researchers surveyed over 500 people; 126 were straight men, and the rest were women and men who were gay or bisexual. The study found that over 15% of the gay or bisexual men had at one time had anorexia, bulimia, or a subclinical eating disorder. Fewer than 5% of heterosexual men have had eating disorders, reports the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Eight percent of heterosexual women reported ever having an eating disorder, compared with just under 10% of lesbian and bisexual women.

Matthew Feldman of the National Development and Research Institutes and his colleague Ilan H. Meyer found that men who were active on sports teams or other recreational groups involving gay or bisexual men were at an elevated risk of developing an eating disorder. Men who reported feeling close to the gay community, however, had a lower risk of current eating disorders. (The Advocate)

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