Eating Pattern Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities
Description
PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to investigate variables that have a consequential effect on eating patterns in the context of the SGM population. The objectives addressed in this research include the following: Determining attraction towards men and/or women; Determining gender expression; Presence of disordered eating history; Severity of symptomology related to disordered eating (DE). METHODS/MATERIALS: This was a quantitative study that used a nine-question online survey via Qualtrics for data collection. The study was conducted during a two-week period on a Facebook group entitled “LGBTQ of Michigan Support.” The study included 20 SGMs. ANALYSES: The data from the survey responses were analyzed via SPSS using descriptive statistics which produced frequencies and cross-tabulations between survey questions. RESULTS: The higher rates of DE for feminine individuals and the experience of severe symptomology in only a feminine individual is concurrent with literature stating that femininity predicts eating pathology in men and women irrespective of sexual orientation.Androgynous individuals in the study were the group that had the highest rate of moderate severity in symptomology. More individuals felt pressure to meet body standards from men than from women out of the group attracted to both. CONCLUSIONS: SGMs are shown to experience a higher prevalence of EDs secondary to body dissatisfaction, stigma-based discrimination, mental health issues and weight control practices. With this knowledge, RDNs can tailor their nutrition interventions to include these factors in helping individuals overcome disordered eating.
Eating Pattern Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities
PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to investigate variables that have a consequential effect on eating patterns in the context of the SGM population. The objectives addressed in this research include the following: Determining attraction towards men and/or women; Determining gender expression; Presence of disordered eating history; Severity of symptomology related to disordered eating (DE). METHODS/MATERIALS: This was a quantitative study that used a nine-question online survey via Qualtrics for data collection. The study was conducted during a two-week period on a Facebook group entitled “LGBTQ of Michigan Support.” The study included 20 SGMs. ANALYSES: The data from the survey responses were analyzed via SPSS using descriptive statistics which produced frequencies and cross-tabulations between survey questions. RESULTS: The higher rates of DE for feminine individuals and the experience of severe symptomology in only a feminine individual is concurrent with literature stating that femininity predicts eating pathology in men and women irrespective of sexual orientation.Androgynous individuals in the study were the group that had the highest rate of moderate severity in symptomology. More individuals felt pressure to meet body standards from men than from women out of the group attracted to both. CONCLUSIONS: SGMs are shown to experience a higher prevalence of EDs secondary to body dissatisfaction, stigma-based discrimination, mental health issues and weight control practices. With this knowledge, RDNs can tailor their nutrition interventions to include these factors in helping individuals overcome disordered eating.