Eating disorders in the LGBTQ+ population

There is good evidence to show that the LGBTQ+ community are at high risk of developing eating disorders, particularly gay men and trans and gender diverse people. The understanding of eating disorders among the gay community has parallels with that among the straight community and needs to take into consideration the role of body image, influenced by the media and by the sexual objectification of certain gay community groups. Eating disorders in the trans and gender diverse population may be precipitated and maintained by the distress associated with gender incongruence, puberty development, and the role that the eating disorder may have in gender expression and can therefore often be alleviated by gender-affirming hormone treatment. Other etiological factors for the whole LGBTQ+ group relate to the minority stress theory, whereby the discrimination and the stress of being a minority can influence the development of mental health problems, including eating disorders. This highlights the need to continue to challenge homophobia and transphobia. Without therapeutic competency for staff working with LGBTQ+ patients, eating disorders may continue to go underdiagnosed or misunderstood among this population.