A recent study published in the Journal of Women's Health has concluded that reading E.L.James' erotic novel series may pose some health risks to women. Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) sought to find an empirical correlation between health risks and reading popular fiction depicting violence against women.

The study included more than 650 women between the ages of 18 and 24. Of the total participants, 219 have read at least the first "Fifty Shades" novel while 436 have not read any of the books. The study found that women who have read all three books have a higher chance of engaging in risky behavior that includes binge drinking, having multiple sex partners, suffering from an eating disorder or being in an abusive relationship.

It was concluded that "problematic depictions of violence against women in popular culture-such as in film, novels, music, or pornography-create a broader social narrative that normalizes these risks and behaviors in women's lives."

"Our study showed strong correlations between health risks in women's lives-including violence victimization-and consumption of Fifty Shades, a fiction series that portrays violence against women," the team, headed by Amy Bonomi, the chairperson and professor in MSU's Department of Human Development and Family Studies, added.

The study did not differentiate whether these said risks were experienced before or after reading the books but to the researcher, it doesn't matter.

"For example, if women experienced adverse health behaviors first (e.g., disordered eating), reading Fifty Shades might reaffirm those experiences and potentially aggravate related trauma. Likewise, if women read Fifty Shades before experiencing the health behaviors assessed in our study, it is possible that the book influenced the onset of these behaviors by creating an underlying context for the behaviors," Bonomi explained.

"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," summarized Science Daily.

Since the 2011 release of the first The "Fifty Shades" book, the trilogy has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and translated into 52 languages. The film adaptation starring Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson laying Anastasia "Ana" Steele, hits cinemas February 13, 2015.

Other stars to appear in the film include Eloise Mumford as Katherine "Kate" Kavanagh, Luke Grimes as Elliot Grey and Rita Ora as Mia Grey.

See the official trailer of the film below, which went viral upon release: