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Thoughts on gender‐related research: Models, myths, and medicine
Author(s) -
NewellMorris Laura
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.1310070209
Subject(s) - coronary artery disease , mythology , disease , body fat distribution , cad , ideal (ethics) , value (mathematics) , medicine , demography , obesity , psychology , gerontology , sociology , biology , computer science , political science , law , philosophy , biochemistry , theology , machine learning
Gender‐related research directed to hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) is discussed in terms of the one‐sex and two‐sex models. Gender “blind” research on the two conditions has resulted in questionable treatment regimes for women. In addition, the biomedical myth of CAD as a male disease has also perpetuated less‐than‐optimal treatment. Finally, the role of amount and distribution of body fat in the development of hypertension and CAD should be considered within an evolutionary framework. Body fatness in women has been of evolutionary survival value and current standards for ideal weight and risk for disease have to take this into account. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.