Lesbians Face Higher Heart Disease Risk

Lesbians could be at greater risk for heart disease than heterosexual women because they generally weigh more and tend to have more abdominal weight, says a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study.

It included a survey of 324 lesbians and an equal number of heterosexual women, all in their late 40s. Both the lesbians and the heterosexual women had body mass indexes of more than 25. That puts them all at increased risk for coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.

But the study found the lesbians also had waist-to-hip ratios and waist circumference measurements that were near or above levels for cardiovascular risk. The lesbians also had a higher rate of weight cycling -- gaining, losing and regaining weight -- than the heterosexual women.

Weight cycling is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

The reasons for the differences between the two groups of women are unclear. Previous research found that lesbians are less concerned about their weight and are less likely to consider themselves overweight, even when they are.

Along with further study, the researchers suggest weight-loss programs specifically designed for lesbians. The first step would be to better understand the way that lesbians regard the issue of being overweight.

The study appears in the current edition of Women's Health Issues.

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