When people think of somebody with an eating disorder, many consider a thin, skinny teenager. A girl with anorexia nervosa. This stereotype is so pervasive that it may possibly feel like reality.
The fact is that Eating disorders affect People of all ages, body sizes, cultures, races, sexes, genders and sexualities. In 2023, around 1.1 million Australians (Around 4.5% of the population) were living with an eating disorder.
A growing body of evidence suggests that LGBTQIA+ individuals are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders. But we'd like more research to grasp how and why they affect this group.
Here's what we all know to date in regards to the high risk of LGBTQ+ people – and what treatments actually work for them.
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition that affects an individual's eating behavior. They can harm each physical and mental health.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are probably the most well-known eating disorders, but are literally probably the most common Binge eating disorder (eating an excessive amount of in too little time and feeling uncontrolled) and Avoidant/restrictive eating disorder (restriction of food because of sensory sensitivity, lack of appetite, or fear of illness or suffocation).
Eating disorders can damage an individual's organs, bones, fertility, and brain function. Depending on the person with the eating disorder Five times Without one you usually tend to die soon.
How high is the danger for LGBTQIA+ people?
Research shows that LGBTQIA+ people have Very high rates of eating disorders Compared to non-LGBT queya+ people.
For example, within the United States, an estimated 9% of the population They will face eating disorders of their lifetime. But a 2018 Survey of LGBTQ Youth The rates present in the US were significantly higher:
- 54% reported an eating disorder diagnosis
- Another 21% thought they'd an eating disorder, but had not been diagnosed.
Within the LGBTQIA+ community, risk also varies amongst different groups:
We haven't got data for asexual people, but we all know this Unrelated people have poor body image Compared to their idiosyncratic peers. So it is probably going that in addition they experience higher rates of eating disorders.
Why LGBTQIA+ individuals are at greater risk
Being an LGBTQIA+ person shouldn't be a mental illness. There isn't any evidence of a biological reason why LGBTQIA+ people experience higher rates of eating disorders.
Although many aspects contribute, probably the most studied risk aspects are minority stress and gender dysphoria.
1. Minority stress
Minority stress It refers back to the impact of discrimination and stigma on the health of LGBTQ+ people. This means it isn't who they're, but how LGBTQIA+ individuals are treated This makes them more vulnerable.
Discrimination could make LGBTQIA+ people feel ashamed of their identities and bodies. Some people attempt to deal with dysfunctional eating behaviors, which might result in an eating disorder.
For intersex people, Medically unnecessary surgery in childhood “Normalizing” their bodies may cause trauma and shame May also increase the risk of eating disorders.
2. Gender dysphoria
Many trans people experience something called gender dysphoria. It is the discomfort, pain, or disconnection that may occur when an individual's gender identity doesn't match their physical body or how others perceive them. For many trans people, eating disorders might be trying Reduce gender dysphoria.
Among trans adolescents, Eating disorders often develop as a way to prevent puberty When they cannot access puberty blocking drugs. For example, restricting food could also be a approach to try to cut back the looks of breast tissue or stop periods.
What form of treatment will work?
After diagnosis, Treatment of common eating disorders Includes a Multidisciplinary team Including a physician, mental health skilled and dietician. If someone's physical health requires close monitoring, treatment might be provided locally or in a hospital.
But eating disorder treatment was not designed with LGBTQIA+ people in mind and sometimes might be Cause damage. LGBTQIA+ people report More negative experiences of treatment in comparison with the final population.
For example, mirror exposure exercises are a standard therapy, where someone with an eating disorder is asked to look within the mirror for long periods of time to cut back body image distress. But for some trans people it may possibly Worry about their gender dysphoria.
This doesn't mean that treatment cannot help LGBTQIA+ people. This implies that treatment needs to be adapted to make sure it meets their needs.
In practice, it appears that evidently: