Study Links Conversion Therapy to Increased Long-Term Heart Disease Risk in Young Adults

Recent research highlights the potential long-term health risks associated with conversion therapy, a discredited practice aimed at altering an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from over 700 young adults assigned male at birth, including 23% who identified as transgender or gender diverse. Approximately 10% of participants reported having undergone conversion therapy, which seeks to change same-sex attractions or minority gender identities.

The findings reveal that young adults exposed to conversion therapy are nearly three times more likely to develop high blood pressure, an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. These individuals also exhibited higher levels of systemic inflammation and elevated blood pressure readings during health assessments. The study’s senior author, Brian Mustanski of Northwestern University, emphasized that this is the first evidence demonstrating how such harmful practices can adversely impact cardiovascular health.

Conversion therapy is rooted in discredited beliefs that sexual and gender minority identities are immoral or abnormal. Leading health organizations have strongly denounced these practices due to their psychological and physical harms, including increased depression, anxiety, and suicidality.

The research underscores the importance of legislative measures to ban conversion therapy, as ongoing disparities in legal protections leave many vulnerable to its harmful effects. Researchers advocate for policies that protect the physical and mental health of sexual and gender minority populations, emphasizing the need for increased awareness about the health risks associated with these practices.

These findings add to the growing body of evidence that conversion therapy has no place in health care or community support, and highlight the critical need for ongoing advocacy and legal reforms to eliminate such harmful interventions.

Source: MedicalXpress