‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Increases Risk of Unhealthy Behaviour

By Steven Hogg - 22 Aug '14 11:00AM

Like reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey'? You are probably at risk of an eating disorder, a new research says.

Researchers at the Michigan State University stated that women who read all three books in the erotic series of the 'Fifty Shades' were more likely to indulge in binge drinking and have multiple sex partners. The findings are important as these risky behaviour exacerbates the chances of being trapped in an abusive relationship.

"If women experienced adverse health behaviors such as disordered eating first, reading 'Fifty Shades' might reaffirm those experiences and potentially aggravate related trauma," lead researcher Amy Bonomi, chairperson and professor in MSU's Department of Human Development and Family Studies, said in a press release.

"Likewise, if they read 'Fifty Shades' before experiencing the health behaviors seen in our study, it's possible the books influenced the onset of these behaviors," she added.

For the study, the researchers examined more than 650 women aged between 18 and 24. They found that women who read the first 'Fifty Shades' book had 25 percent more chances of having a partner who shouted or cursed at them; 34 percent were more likely to have a partner who showed stalking tendencies; and more than 75 percent were likely to have used diet aids or not eaten for more than 24 hours, according to researchers.

But, the findings showed that those who read all the three books were 65 percent more likely than non-readers to binge drink (drink five or more drinks on a single occasion on six or more days per month) and 63 percent more likely to have five or more intercourse partners during their lifetime.

"We recognize that the depiction of violence against women in and of itself is not problematic, especially if the depiction attempts to shed serious light on the problem," Bonomi said. "The problem comes when the depiction reinforces the acceptance of the status quo, rather than challenging it."

The findings are published in the Journal of Women's Health.