Chubby teens less likely to commit suicide later
Men who were overweight in their late teens are less likely to commit suicide later in life than thin men, according to a study of army recruits over 30 years published in Sweden on Thursday. The outcome contrasts with studies for women, who are believed to be more depressed if they are overweight.
"There are many reasons for suicide, but the fact that overweight men are less at risk supports the assumption that there are biological reasons," researcher Finn Rasmussen at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute told Swedish radio.
There are many medical problems connected to being overweight, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and clogged arteries, but for men depression is not one of them, Rasmussen said.
He admitted that researchers had no conclusive explanation for the link between the body mass index (BMI) and a lower risk of suicide.
"But we believe that, despite the social discrimination suffered by fat men, there is an underlying biological mechanism that protects them," he said.
Still Rasmussen warned against fattening up as a remedy against depression "because of the many negative side effects of being overweight".
The research is based on medical tests conducted on all Swedish men drafted into the military between 1968 and 1999, a total of 1.3 million, who were examined when they were 18 or 19 years old.
Just over 3,000 committed suicide later in life.
AFP
Comments
See Also
The outcome contrasts with studies for women, who are believed to be more depressed if they are overweight.
"There are many reasons for suicide, but the fact that overweight men are less at risk supports the assumption that there are biological reasons," researcher Finn Rasmussen at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute told Swedish radio.
There are many medical problems connected to being overweight, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and clogged arteries, but for men depression is not one of them, Rasmussen said.
He admitted that researchers had no conclusive explanation for the link between the body mass index (BMI) and a lower risk of suicide.
"But we believe that, despite the social discrimination suffered by fat men, there is an underlying biological mechanism that protects them," he said.
Still Rasmussen warned against fattening up as a remedy against depression "because of the many negative side effects of being overweight".
The research is based on medical tests conducted on all Swedish men drafted into the military between 1968 and 1999, a total of 1.3 million, who were examined when they were 18 or 19 years old.
Just over 3,000 committed suicide later in life.
AFP
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.