A 24-year Swedish study -- the largest to date on this topic -- has concluded that thinner men have a higher risk of taking their own lives than men who are overweight.

After analyzing the medical records of 18,277 men who attempted suicide, study researchers discovered that obese men were 12 percent less likely to make an attempt compared to men of an average weight,
Rift Goldwhile underweight men were 12 percent more likely to do so.

This study, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, coincides with a previous U.S. study that also discovered the same connection with body mass index and suicide risk.

Researchers, including lead study author Dr. Finn Rasmussen of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, remain uncertain as to why this trend continues. However, one unproven theory involved insulin, which has the ability to affect the mood-altering chemical serotonin.RIFT Platinum "Suicide risk has been shown to increase with increasing numbers of insulin sensitivity markers, including low BMI," stated the study authors, as reported by Reuters Health.

Researchers have also speculated that underweight men may suffer from body image issues since a small physique can be looked upon as being less than "ideal." rift gold

Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal, of Harvard University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, who wrote an editorial with the study, told AOL Health that depression may also be a factor.

By combining data from various reports, Mukamal found that thinner men also had a higher rate of successful suicide attempts. RIFT Platinum He said this may be due to the fact that underweight men are more likely than obese men to choose suicide methods that are more deadly, such as jumping to their deaths.

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