Wednesday, April 11, 2007 / 02:49 PM

A new study of New York City residents shows that gay and bisexual men may be at a much higher risk for eating disorders than heterosexual men, Reuters reported.

Researchers surveyed more than 500 people; 126 were straight men and the rest were men and women who were gay or bisexual.

The study found that more than 15 percent of the gay or bisexual men had had anorexia, bulimia or a subclinical eating disorder. Less than 5 percent of heterosexual men have had eating disorders, according to research published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Just under 10 percent of lesbian and bisexual women reported ever having an eating disorder, compared with 8 percent of heterosexual women.

Dr. Matthew Feldman of the National Development and Research Institutes and his colleague Dr. Ilan H. Meyer found that men who were active in sports teams or other recreational groups involving gay or bisexual men were at an elevated risk of developing an eating disorder.

Men who reported feeling close to the gay community had a lower risk of current eating disorders, they found. (The Advocate)