Study: Gay Men Compete to Be Thin

Competition and not personal desires are what drive women and gay men to lose weight, according to a new study published in the Journal of Evolution and Human Behavior.

The study found a natural competitive instinct among individuals of both groups to compare themselves to others who are seen as more successful. The study did not find the same results among lesbian women or heterosexual men.

Norman Li of Singapore Management University, who conducted the study, said the behavior is evolutionary. People in the West tend to gain weight as they age, therefore equating thinness with youth, he said, according to New Scientist magazine.

The constantly piqued competitive nature (thanks to an ever-present media saturated with images of thin models) can lead to psychological issues such as eating disorders, depression, and workaholism.