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Loading ...Gay and bi teens at risk for eating disorders
09.18.2009 11:36am EDT
From Reuters:
(New York) Gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers may be at higher risk of binge-eating and purging than their heterosexual peers, starting as early as age 12, a new study finds.For the new study, researchers at Harvard University and Children’s Hospital Boston used data from a U.S. survey of nearly 14,000 12- to 23-year-olds to look at the relationship between sexual orientation and binge-eating and purging.
They found heightened rates of binge-eating among both males and females who identified themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or “mostly heterosexual.”
Among females, lesbian, bisexual and mostly heterosexual respondents were all about twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to report binge-eating at least once per month in the past year.
Bisexual and mostly heterosexual girls and women were also more likely to say they had purged in the past year in order to control their weight.
Among males, the highest risks were seen among homosexuals — who were seven times more likely to report bingeing and nearly 12 times more likely to report purging than heterosexual males.
Bisexual and mostly heterosexual boys and men also had elevated risks of both problems — with rates anywhere from three to seven times higher than those of their heterosexual counterparts.
Hi all,
Don’t most teens have eating
disorders? All I see most of them eat
is fast food crap. Parents and schools
need to do more to educate kids more
about nutrition.
I didn’t have a fast food/ junk food diet when I was a teenager. I think eating way too much greasy fried, salty and sugary food, too much soda and chips, and high fat foods are to blame for so much of the physical and psychological misery along with the extreme obesity that threatens the well-being of so many teens. Fresh fruits and vegetables and salads and sufficient milk are lacking from so many teen diets. Teens who load up on way too much soda and not drinking enough milk are doing their bones and teeth no favor. And when you have kids in school doing horrendous things to their bodies (like I saw in a photo of two Maryland teenaged girls at lunch pouring ranch dressing on top of pizza) it’s no wonder that some teens are so obese and on their way to severe health problems of all kinds due to lack of nutritional guidance.
Typical. Here we have a problem that is 1% about food and 99% about teens under socialtal pressure using food to escape or fill some hole inside of them. But instead of seeing that, we have a cupple of people with their heads up their asses talking about fast food. study didn’t say gay teens are more likely to binge and purge because of greasy food. Honestly, better to be silent and thought a fool than open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.
Boyd,
I don’t recall talking to you at all or in that way.
We all have opinions but we don’t talk to each other as you do to us. Opinions are stated respectfully when directed to others of your group.
There’s an article in this week’s Time Magazine that says some research has shown that an exposure to certain chemicals in utero and/or within the first few years can cause a preponderance to obesity. One of those chemicals, believe it or not, is used in the production of baby formula bottles.
Thnaks bama-stu,
I will look for that article.
Thanks for defending me too, Morgan.
We disagree at times and I respect
your views as we all should to one
another. Boyd seems very stuck-up
and full of himself to me. Peter
I think that many people having a preponderance of sitting on their butts and not getting exercise leads to obesity.
Teens and adults need to get off their butts and find an physical activity that they enjoy participating in.
Stop blaming this on anything more than not eating right and not getting physical activity.
Desire unmet usually will lead to these kinds of behaviors in those who have been institutionalized by mainstream heterosexual society for being homosexual.
Peter,
A basic respect for each other remains inspite of differences in belief, thought or opinion.
That’s how anyone gets along.
Regards,
Morgan