A federal study to determine why 75 percent of lesbian women are obese and gay men are not has totaled nearly $3 million.
The National Institutes of Health study is now in its fourth year, receiving an additional $670,567 for fiscal year 2014, for a total cost of $2.87 million, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have come to several conclusions since studying “the striking interplay of gender and sexual orientation in obesity disparities,” which is slated to last until 2016.
They have determined that gay and bisexual males had a “greater desire for toned muscles” than straight men, lesbians have lower “athletic self-esteem” that may lead to higher rates of obesity, and that lesbians are more likely to see themselves at a healthy weight even though they are not, the Free Beacon reported.
Their research also found that LGBT individuals exercise less than heterosexuals, and that sexual minorities are 46 to 76 percent less likely to be on an athletic team.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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