I dont know whether the study referred only to the so-called "closet" lesbians, or just lesbians in general, but because homosexuality is still not quite socially accepted in most cultures, there is most likely still some amount of emotional difficulty (similar to that of the sexual abuse) experienced by most gay people. In the case of closet homosexuals (what exactly is the PC term for closet?) this effect is most likely magnified, since they have still not come to terms with the idea of even their closest loved ones knowing their orientation.

i think what the study is trying to say is, combine a traumatizing childhood past with a currently socially deviant* lifestyle, and the resulting emotional impacts are going to make it difficult for most of these people to focus on weight loss.




*note that deviant is an academic term in this case, not an opinion or judgement of my own

__________________
No updates for now, sorry

Personally I think this study is messed up. Sexual abuse MAY lead to some lasting mental issues that result in a person consciously or subconsciously eating to intentionally become less desirable but that has absolutely nothing to do with orientation and is solely based on childhood trauma. I think people will use this as a cop out so they can once again cling to whatever makes them "feel" more secure with who they actually are.

i don't think sexuality has anything to do with your weight

People are so terribly complex. I hate the way some scientists try to group people that way. There are so many different factors that contribute to weight gain for anyone and there are lots of detrimental effects from being abused and everyone responds differently! As for being homosexual there is a level of social nonconformity that makes a lot of other people nervous if not down right hostile and that has to be a stresser. However all that doesn't mean if your an abused, homosexual that you will have a weight problem. sigh as long as we can fit everyone in a nice neat labeled box right*rolls eyes*

__________________

no matter what if you are gay or not, if you've been sexually abused, you may have weight, behavior issues or other different types of issues. Simple and to the point!

isn't Rosie O'donnel a lesbian? She's not thin

OMG! Want To Lose, that statment just makes you sound very ignorant

Yeah, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Leisha Hailey and Suze Orman are all TOTAL COWS.

On a non-sarcastic note, Rosie O'Donnell is fabulous and you are an idiot.

I'm a lesbian.
I realized this when I was eleven.
I've been overweight since I was eight.

I think it doesn't have anything to do with my sexuality-- just the fact that I have an addictive personality and became addicted to food because it was comforting to me.
My mother's an alcoholic.
I don't have a dad. I thought that my step-dad was my biological father until I was twelve.

I'm sixteen now, and I don't live with my mother anymore.

And I'm in the range for obesity.
Eh.

Depression and traumatic experiences are reasonable causes for weight gain, but I don't think sexuality has much to do with it.
I guess you could look at it from the point of view that... homosexuals have to deal with feeling as though they're different, being teased and taunted and isolated when they come out, and not knowing how to deal with it except to eat... but I don't know.

It just depends on the person and how they react to things and deal with life.

I'm a pretty screwed up person in general, I suppose.

I was a vitcim of sexual abuse when I was very very young, and I'm overweight (not a lesbian mind you). However, in no way do I think it has anything to do with my being fat. I'm fat because I enjoy the taste of food, and I have nothing better right now to occupy my time with.

Not saying it's that way for everyone,but it's that way for me.

__________________

I hate to see this "fat lesbians" it's so offensive, there are other ways to say it if you really must. Oh and as it goes I'm a fat lezza and I was not sexually abused as a child.

__________________
I will let you down, I will make you hurt.

"On a non-sarcastic note, Rosie O'Donnell is fabulous and you are an idiot"

Now that statement sounds ignorant, but to each his own I guess.

__________________

Wow, That's pretty interesting. Where did you find this information from?

Blesson
\

i also think its the abuse more than who you love. when you are abused you turn to other things like alcohol, drugs, shopping... food.

__________________