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Published on: 4/11/2007
Last Visited: 4/11/2007
It's not clear why men's sexual orientation may affect their vulnerability to eating disorders, according to the study authors, led by Dr Matthew Feldman of the National Development and Research Institutes, a non-profit research organisation in New York.
Other studies have had similar findings, and one theory is that gay men have different ideals about physical appearance, and, similar to women, they may feel pressure to stay thin. In their study, Feldman and colleague Dr Ilan Meyer found an elevated eating disorder risk among men who were active in recreational groups, such as sports teams, that primarily included other gay or bisexual men.
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As for the findings in women, Feldman and Meyer say, they refute the notion that homosexual and bisexual women may be less vulnerable to body-image issues and eating disorders.