Chewin' The Fat On Teh Gay

I'm crushed ... er, not. But there's something I don't quite get.

LESBIANS are twice as likely as heterosexual women to be overweight or obese, which puts them at greater risk for obesity-related health problems and death, US researchers said.

The report, published in the American Journal of Public Health, is one of the first large studies to look at obesity among lesbians.

Ulrike Boehmer of the Boston University School of Public Health and colleagues looked at a 2002 national survey of almost 6000 women, and found that lesbians were 2.69 times more likely to be overweight and 2.47 times more likely to be obese.

This:

“The results of these studies indicate that lesbian women have a better body image than do heterosexual women,” they wrote.

One might think that the weight issue might be blamed on the stress of being Gay being dealt with through over eating. But then, if they have a better body image, and perhaps better image of themselves overall ... that shouldn't be a cause for stress.

So, is the natural condition of women fat? Did the lesbians lie? Or do they just not care about body image, thus leading to their perception and that disastrous armpit issue we see when they elect to march for equality in tank tops?

Hmm ....

Comments

[Zifnab]

I think you mispelled "American" as "lesbian" there, Dan. Although, I'm sure its comforting to think that the reason the fat chick at the bar turned you down again was because she was a dyke.

[Paul L.]

Zifnab, learn to read.
LESBIANS are twice as likely as heterosexual women to be overweight or obese

[ramona]

"Better body image" depends on how you define the term.

IME (as a middle-aged lesbian myself), some lesbians use not having to make themselves attractive to men a reason to let themselves go, sort of the way a lot of unattached men take care of their apartment. Fat is the lesbian version of dirty laundry all over the bedroom floor.

The hyperpoliticized ones (the "wombmyn") treat obseity sort of like multiple piercings: a rather adolescent way to set themselves apart and basically say "screw you" to the mainstream values they detest. It also gives then a convenient reason to kvetch when people look at them funny.

The lipsticks and the jocks, OTOH, can get pretty obsessed with their looks. And since my GF's a jock who spends 6 nights a week in the weight room, I have to wonder about the researcher's BMI comment. GF goes to a new doc for an annual physical, doc enters the examining room with her nose in GF's file and without even looking at her reads her height/weight and declares "You're overweight!" Uh, look up, doc. GF has a BMI of 22. Them're muscles.

[Zifnab]

"Zifnab, learn to read."

Paul, learn to extrapolate.
Americans are fat in general. Of course, if the trends are true, Houston - America's fattest city - must be some sort of hotbed of lesbian antics.

[Zifnab]

It might also explain the Freshman Fifteen.

[Hard Right]

It's interesting how the "bulls" and female jocks are so popular with the ladies, yet are rather masculine in behavior. It's as though they still want manly...provided it's a female.

Sometimes nature, sometimes nuture (for lack of a better word).

[scarshapedstar]

"One might think that the weight issue might be blamed on the stress of being Gay being dealt with through over eating."

Finally, we agree.

Wait... weren't we talking about Kim du Toit?

[Hard Right]

"Wait... weren't we talking about Kim du Toit?"

I'd love to see you say that to her face, coward.

[Zifnab]

I just want to know the link between right-wing fundamentalism and getting massages from hookers. Between Ted Haggard and Randall Tobias, I'm beginning to see some interesting trend lines.

[SDN]

ramona, that ain't just your GF. The d*mn BMI is a crock and always has been. There was a story years ago of how it classified athletes like Michael Jordan as overweight.... and that was before they lowered the numbers for no apparent reason other than to increase the size of the "obesity epidemic" and provide more excuses for the nanny state.

[Phoenix]

Zif,

Sadly, sex is a source of some kind of love for many people who have something missing from their lives. They use sex to fix it. I'm not sure if I should have used the word 'sadly' as it is a normal human trait to seek out intimacy, even if you have to pay for it, in order to soothe some wounds. The urge to get laid isn't what I'm talking about so much, but it's still a connection.

No way to discuss this without generalizing, but whatever the need, sex ranks right up there, and if someone has been rejected a few times,the opposite sex might look good to them; As for fundamentalists, .., you can't leave out priests.

It will be interesting to see how this all comes out - conservatives or liberals - who gets it on more outside of marriage.

Anyway, I don't care one bit unless it involves kids... It's private and should remain that way.

[Hard Right]

"The d*mn BMI is a crock and always has been. There was a story years ago of how it classified athletes like Michael Jordan as overweight...."

I remember that-Stossel I think. That's why I don't buy their obesity epidemic BS. I keep hearing ridiculous stories about how the Dr. told someone to lose weight when they didn't need to.