An American study has found gay men are thinner than straight men, while lesbians are likely to weigh more than their heterosexual counterparts.
The report, published in the American Journal of Public Health, looked at a survey of more than 67,000 Massachusetts residents between the ages of 18 and 64.
Researchers found that while 21 percent of straight men were classed as obese, just 14 percent of gay men were. They found 26 percent of lesbians were obese, compared to 17 percent of straight women.
They also found gay men and lesbians were more likely to smoke than straight people, while lesbians were more likely to be at risk of heart disease than straight women.
The study's lead author Kerith Conron has told MSNBC.com that earlier studies looking at health in the gay community focused mostly on sexually transmitted diseases and mental health, rather than on chronic illnesses like obesity and heart disease.
"This may mean that we in the public health community need to come up with more tailored messages to reach these groups, just as car dealers do when they want to reach a specific target audience."
Conron believes the divide may be down to cultural differences.
"It may be more acceptable in the lesbian community for women to be full-sized."
