Eating Disorders

The last week in February of each year marks National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Due to experiences of discrimination and trauma, LGBTQ people are twice as likely as their non-LGBTQ peers to develop a mental health disorder, including an eating disorder. LGBTQ people also have unique barriers to treatment and recovery. Here are some facts you should know:

·     Gay men are 7x more likely to report binge eating and 12x more likely to report purging than straight men. Gay men are 5% of the total male population, but 42% of male clients in eating disorder treatment identify as gay. 

·     An estimated 40-70% of transgender and nonbinary individuals report disordered eating. There is evidence to suggest that both body dysmorphia and eating disorders can emerge from gender dysphoria. 

·     Bisexual and lesbian women were twice as likely to report binge eating and purging in the past year compared to straight women.

·     LGBTQ people can struggle to receive treatment for eating disorders because of various obstacles, including

o  stigmas attached to eating disorders and being LGBTQ

o  the assumption that eating disorders only affect heterosexual and cisgender women

o  lack of health insurance/ability to pay

o  an absence of LGBTQ-friendly therapists in their area

·     One of the strongest protective factors against negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ people is feeling connected with other LGBTQ folks.

If you’d like to learn more about advocating for LGBTQ people struggling with eating disorders, check out https://fedupcollective.org/ and https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/lgbtq