Eating Disorders and Disordered Weight and Shape Control Behaviors in Sexual Minority Populations

Abstract

Purpose of review This review summarized trends and key findings from empirical studies conducted between 2011–2017 regarding eating disorders and disordered weight and shape control behaviors among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority (i.e., non-heterosexual) populations. Recent findings Recent research has examined disparities through sociocultural and minority stress approaches. Sexual minorities continue to demonstrate higher rates of disordered eating; disparities are more pronounced among males. Emerging data indicates elevated risk for disordered eating pathology among sexual minorities who are transgender or ethnic minorities. Dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs may hold promise for sexual minority males. Summary Continued research must examine the intersections of sexual orientation, gender, and ethnic identities, given emergent data that eating disorder risk may be most prominent among specific subgroups. More research is needed within sexual minorities across the lifespan. There are still a lack of eating disorder treatment and prevention studies for sexual minorities.

The relationship between body mass index, body dissatisfaction, and eating pathology in sexual minority women

“…Results from the present study align with the few existing studies drawn from population based samples (e.g., Calzo et al, ), indicating that, in general, sexual minority status does not protect women against the broader societal pressure to be thin (Owens, Hughes, & Owens‐Nicholson, ). Race, however, appears to moderate this relationship.…”

“…Similar to Black women, studies indicate that sexual minority women have higher BMIs and report less body dissatisfaction than heterosexual women on average (Eliason et al, ; Laska et al, ; Miller & Luk, ). Recent reviews present conflicting results on the prevalence of eating pathology among sexual minority women (Calzo, Blashill, Brown, & Argenal, ; Meneguzzo et al, ). Studies using data from convenience samples find no differences in eating pathology between sexual minority and heterosexual women.…”

Disparities in self‐reported eating disorders and academic impairment in sexual and gender minority college students relative to their heterosexual and cisgender peers

“…EDs and ED behavior are more prevalent among LGBQ+ individuals relative to heterosexual individuals. These disparities have been identified across the full spectrum of eating pathology (Bankoff, Richards, Bartlett, Wolf, & Mitchell, ; Calzo et al, ; VanKim et al, ). For example, EDs and ED behaviors are more common among men who identify as gay, bisexual or prefer an alternative identifier (Bankoff et al, ) and sexual minority women, broadly defined (Diemer et al, ) as compared to heterosexual men and women.…”

“…Similarly, rates of EDs differ by sexual orientation, or a person's sexual identity as it relates to the gender(s) of people they are attracted to or form intimate relationships with. Individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, unsure, or prefer an alternative identifier (LGBQ+) report considerably higher rates of EDs and ED behaviors relative to heterosexual identified individuals (Calzo, Blashill, Brown, & Argenal, ; Diemer et al, ). However, less is known about the role the intersection of gender identities and sexual orientations in the frequency of EDs and ED behaviors.…”

Risk Factors for Eating Disorder Psychopathology within the Treatment Seeking Transgender Population: The Role of Cross‐Sex Hormone Treatment

“…As a consequence, women who are dissatisfied with their bodies often strive to obtain a thin body, while men are more likely to strive to obtain a muscular physique (e.g., Grogan, ; McCreary & Sasse, ). There are certain populations that have been found to be at increased risk of high levels of body dissatisfaction, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community (e.g., Calzo, Blashill, Brown, & Argenal, ; McClain & Peebles, ; Morgan & Arcelus, ). Within this group, transgender people are particularly vulnerable to body dissatisfaction due to the distress and incongruence they experience with their gender and body, yet this population is severely under researched in relation to eating disorder psychopathology (Jones, Haycraft, Murjan, & Arcelus, ; Witcomb et al ., ).…”