At the intersection of trans and disabled

Moving toward targeted eating disorder care for transgender, non‐binary, and gender expansive patients in the United States

“…Gender-affirming chest surgery, such as double mastectomy is a low-risk procedure (Akhavan et al, 2021), however bariatric surgery carries high morbidity and mortality (Adams et al, 2015;Flum et al, 2005; Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Consortium, 2009;Tack & Deloose, 2014). Further, BMI thresholds for accessing gender-affirming surgery are not evidence-based (Brownstone et al, 2021), and requiring patients to lose weight to access gender-affirming surgery has been shown to be ineffective (Martinson et al, 2020) and psychologically damaging (Brownstone et al, 2021) This may be because of the disproportionately high prevalence of chronic illness and disability among TNG adults compared to cisgender peers (e.g., Baker, 2019;Harner & Johnson, 2020) and due to the increased contact with healthcare observed in disabled TNG adults compared to non-disabled TNG peers (Kattari et al, 2021). Further, in the general population, individuals with chronic illness are observed to be at increased risk for EDs compared to non-chronically ill peers (e.g., Quick et al, 2013).…”

“…Of note, our patient stakeholder group had an extremely high prevalence of chronic illness and/or disability. This may be because of the disproportionately high prevalence of chronic illness and disability among TNG adults compared to cisgender peers (e.g., Baker, 2019; Harner & Johnson, 2020) and due to the increased contact with healthcare observed in disabled TNG adults compared to non‐disabled TNG peers (Kattari et al, 2021). Further, in the general population, individuals with chronic illness are observed to be at increased risk for EDs compared to non‐chronically ill peers (e.g., Quick et al, 2013).…”