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Characteristics of men with persistent thinness.
Suzanne E Mazzeo1, Rita M Slof, Federica Tozzi
1Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 842018, Richmond, VA 23284-2018, USA. semazzeo@vcu.edu.
Obesity Research
|October 16, 2004
Summary
Persistent thinness may shield men from eating disorders, despite societal weight gain trends. Thin men showed less eating pathology but higher generalized anxiety disorder risk.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Sociology
Background:
- Western societies face increasing obesity rates.
- Some individuals maintain persistently low body weights.
- Thin women report fewer eating disorders and higher self-esteem, but persistently thin men are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of persistently thin men.
- To explore the relationship between thinness and eating pathology in men.
- To examine mental health correlates of persistent thinness in men.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Participants completed self-report measures.
- Assessed demographics, psychiatric history, body size, eating behaviors, and personality traits.
Main Results:
- Thinness was significantly associated with reduced eating pathology.
- Persistently thin men had a higher likelihood of meeting criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 2.46).
Conclusions:
- Persistent thinness appears to be a protective factor against the development of eating disorders in men.
- Further research is needed to understand the psychological profile and mental health of persistently thin men.