Young women who have read "Fifty Shades of Grey" are more likely to exhibit signs of eating disorders and have a verbally abusive partner, according to recent US study.
And women who read all three books in the blockbuster "Fifty Shades" erotic romance series are at increased risk of engaging in binge drinking and having multiple sex partners, the Michigan State University study found.
All are known risks associated with being in an abusive relationship, much like the lead character, Anastasia, is in "Fifty Shades," Amy Bonomi, the study's lead investigator, said.
The study does not distinguish whether women experienced the health behaviours before or after reading the books, but Bonomi said it was a potential problem either way.
"If women experienced adverse health behaviours such as disordered eating first, reading 'Fifty Shades' might reaffirm those experiences and potentially aggravate related trauma," the chairperson and professor in MSU's Department of Human Development and Family Studies said.
"Likewise, if they read 'Fifty Shades' before experiencing the health behaviours seen in our study, it's possible the books influenced the onset of these behaviours."
The researchers studied more than 650 women aged 18-24, a prime period for exploring greater sexual intimacy in relationships, Bonomi said.
Compared to participants who didn't read the book, those who read the first "Fifty Shades" novel were 25 percent more likely to have a partner who yelled or swore at them; 34 percent more likely to have a partner who demonstrated stalking tendencies; and more than 75 percent more likely to have used diet aids or fasted for more than 24 hours.
Those who read all three books in the series were 65 percent more likely than non-readers to binge drink - defined as having five or more drinks on a single occasion on six or more days per month -- and 63 percent more likely to have had sex with five or more partners during their lifetime.
Bonomi, who has a doctoral degree in health services and a master's in public health, said she is not suggesting the book be banned or that women should not be free to read whatever books they wish or to have a love life.
However, kids and young adults should be taught to consume fiction, television, movies, magazines and other mass media with a critical eye, Bonomi said.
"We recognise 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 "Fifty Shades" series has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. A movie adaptation is scheduled for release in early 2015.