It’s Not Me, It’s You: Perceptions of Partner Body Image Preferences Associated With Eating Disorder Symptoms in Gay and Heterosexual Men

Fussner, Lauren M.; Smith, April R.

doi:10.1080/00918369.2015.1060053

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Furthermore, for gay adults, the discrepancy between current body shape and the body shape they believed they should have to attract a partner was significantly greater than their current body shape and ideal body shape. This discrepancy is associated with greater eating, shape, and weight concerns, suggesting that beliefs of partner body image preferences contribute to disordered eating behaviors in gay adults [ 57 ].…”

Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

2020

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Background According to past research, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience a higher prevalence of psychopathology, which is attributable to the increased stress (i.e., stigma and prejudice) that they experience, as detailed by the minority stress model (MSM). Main This current literature review examined the empirical literature regarding the rates and types of, and risk factors for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in LGBT adults and adolescents, in addition to each individual subgroup (i.e., lesbians, gay males, bisexuals, transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals). Conclusion LGBT adults and adolescents experience greater incidence of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. Additionally, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults and adolescents were all at increased risk for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. Mixed results were found for lesbian adults and adolescents. Results are discussed within the framework of the MSM.

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Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

2020

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“…Restrictive dieting (n = 19).-Seventeen studies found that sexual minority males reported higher rates of restrictive dieting and fasting during adolescence and young adulthood compared to heterosexual males (Ackard, Fedio, Neumark-Sztainer, & Britt, 2008;S. B. Austin et al, 2004;Calzo et al, 2015;Conner, Johnson, & Grogan, 2004;Dakanalis et al, 2012;Fussner & Smith, 2015;Gettelman & Thompson, 1993;Hadland, Austin, Goodenow, & Calzo, 2014;Laska et al, 2015;Li, Smith, Griskevicius, Cason, & Bryan, 2010;Lipson & Sonneville, 2017;Matthews-Ewald, Zullig, & Ward, 2014;Shearer et al, 2015;Siever, 1994;Smith, Hawkeswood, Bodell, & Joiner, 2011;Strong, Williamson, Netemeyer, & Geer, 2000;Watson, Adjei, Saewyc, Homma, & Goodenow, 2017). French and colleagues (1996) found sexual minorities and heterosexuals did not differ in the likelihood of restrictive dieting, and the other study utilized a female-only sample (Striegel-Moore, Tucker, & Hsu, 1990).…”

Section: Disordered Eating Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…).-In this review, "body image" was used as a catchall term comprising items like body dissatisfaction and weight perception. Among males, two-thirds (n = 12) of studies indicated sexual minorities reported worse overall body image compared to heterosexuals (Austin et al, 2004;Carper et al, 2010;Conner et al, 2004;Dakanalis et al, 2012;French et al, 1996;Fussner & Smith, 2015;Laska et al, 2015;Li et al, 2010;Siever, 1994;Smith et al, 2011;Strong et al, 2000;VanKim et al, 2016). During adolescence, weight perception relative to BMI emerged as an important construct.…”

Section: Body Image (N = 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of these, the majority (n = 5) assessed factors associated with disparities in body image and disordered eating behaviors. These studies assessed intrasexual competition (Li et al, 2010), media influences (Carper et al, 2010;Dakanalis et al, 2012), sexual partner influences (Fussner & Smith, 2015) and body fat dissatisfaction (Smith et al, 2011) as explanation for these disparities among young adults. In two laboratory-based experiments, Li and colleagues (2010) found that intrasexual competition cues led to worse body image and restrictive eating attitudes among heterosexual females and gay males.…”

Section: Bmi (N = 17mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Review of Sexual Orientation Disparities in Disordered Eating and Weight-Related Behaviors Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Toward a Developmental Model

Miller

Luk

2018

Adolescent Res Rev

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Adolescence is a sensitive period for the development of disordered eating and weight-related behaviors, and sexual minorities may be particularly at risk due to heightened minority stress and challenges related to sexual identity development. This review synthesized findings from 32 articles that examined sexual orientation disparities (each with a heterosexual referent group) in four disordered eating behaviors (binging, purging, restrictive dieting, diet pill use) and four weight-related behaviors (eating behaviors, physical activity, body image, and Body Mass Index [BMI]). Potential variations by outcome, sex, race/ethnicity, and developmental stage were systematically reviewed. Evidence supporting sexual orientation disparities in disordered eating and weight-related behaviors was more consistent among males than females. Among females, sexual orientation disparities in disordered eating behaviors appeared to be more pronounced during adolescence than in young adulthood. Sexual minority females generally reported more positive body image than heterosexual females but experienced disparities in BMI. Sexual orientation differences in eating behaviors and physical activity were especially understudied. Incorporating objectification and minority stress theory, a developmental model was devised where body image was conceptualized as a key mechanism leading to disordered eating behaviors. To advance understanding of sexual orientation disparities and tailor intervention efforts, research in this field should utilize longitudinal study designs to examine developmental variations and incorporate multi-dimensional measurements of sexual orientation and body image.

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“…Sociocultural theories emphasize the importance of sexual minority community norms concerning appearance, and minority stress theory posits that sexual orientation‐related discrimination, victimization, and self‐stigma lead to disproportionate levels of stress in sexual minority groups, which contribute to elevated ED risk (Calzo, Blashill, Brown, & Argenal, 2017). Evidence indicates sexual minority males may experience more appearance pressures than their heterosexual peers (Fussner & Smith, 2015), while sexual minority females may not (Dotan, Bachner‐Melman, & Dahlenburg, 2019). Therefore, a sociocultural perspective might predict elevated ED risk only in sexual minority males, whereas a minority stress perspective might predict elevated ED risk in both male and female sexual minorities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparities in eating disorder risk and diagnosis among sexual minority college students: Findings from the national Healthy Minds Study

Hazzard

Simone

Borg

et al. 2020

Intl J Eating Disorders

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Objective To examine differences in eating disorder (ED) risk and diagnosis by sexual orientation in a national sample of college students. Method Data from 178 U.S. colleges and universities participating in the Healthy Minds Study between 2016 and 2019 were analyzed (36,691 cisgender men, 81,730 cisgender women; 15.7% self‐identifying as sexual minorities). Outcomes were ED risk (≥2 on the SCOFF) and self‐reported lifetime ED diagnosis. Prevalence estimates adjusted for demographics and weight status were computed via logistic regression. Results Higher proportions of questioning (29.1%), bisexual (26.3%), and gay men (30.9%) exhibited elevated risk than heterosexual men (14.3%), and a higher proportion of gay men exhibited elevated risk than bisexual men. Higher proportions of questioning (34.5%) and bisexual women (34.6%) exhibited elevated risk than heterosexual women (27.6%); proportions of lesbian (28.1%) and heterosexual women were similar. Among those with elevated risk, higher proportions of bisexual (5.0%) and gay men (7.1%) and of questioning (14.7%), bisexual (18.1%), and lesbian women (19.6%) had been diagnosed relative to heterosexual men (2.0%) and heterosexual women (10.3%), respectively. Discussion Questioning and bisexual individuals appear to be particularly vulnerable; they may experience elevated ED risk relative to their heterosexual peers yet underdiagnosis relative to their gay or lesbian peers.

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It’s Not Me, It’s You: Perceptions of Partner Body Image Preferences Associated With Eating Disorder Symptoms in Gay and Heterosexual Men

Cited by 13 publications

References 46 publications

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

A Systematic Review of Sexual Orientation Disparities in Disordered Eating and Weight-Related Behaviors Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Toward a Developmental Model

Disparities in eating disorder risk and diagnosis among sexual minority college students: Findings from the national Healthy Minds Study

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