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Eating Disorders and Disordered Weight and Shape Control Behaviors in Sexual Minority Populations

  • Eating Disorders (S Wonderlich and JM Lavender, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review summarized trends and key findings from empirical studies conducted between 2011 and 2017 regarding eating disorders and disordered weight and shape control behaviors among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority (i.e., non-heterosexual) populations.

Recent Findings

Recent research has examined disparities through sociocultural and minority stress approaches. Sexual minorities continue to demonstrate higher rates of disordered eating; disparities are more pronounced among males. Emerging data indicates elevated risk for disordered eating pathology among sexual minorities who are transgender or ethnic minorities. Dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs may hold promise for sexual minority males.

Summary

Continued research must examine the intersections of sexual orientation, gender, and ethnic identities, given emergent data that eating disorder risk may be most prominent among specific subgroups. More research is needed within sexual minorities across the lifespan. There is still a lack of eating disorder treatment and prevention studies for sexual minorities.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Calzo was supported by K01DA034753. Dr. Blashill was supported by K23MH096647. We would like to thank Kathryn Houk and Hannah Saquilayan for their assistance in preparing this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182-4162, USA

    Jerel P. Calzo & Russell L. Argenal

  2. Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA

    Jerel P. Calzo

  3. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Aaron J. Blashill

  4. San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA

    Aaron J. Blashill

  5. Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

    Tiffany A. Brown

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  1. Jerel P. Calzo
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  4. Russell L. Argenal
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Correspondence to Jerel P. Calzo.

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Conflict of Interest

Jerel P. Calzo reports a grant from NIH/NIDA (K01DA034753).

Aaron J. Blashill, Tiffany A. Brown, and Russell L. Argenal each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Eating Disorders

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Calzo, J.P., Blashill, A.J., Brown, T.A. et al. Eating Disorders and Disordered Weight and Shape Control Behaviors in Sexual Minority Populations. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0801-y

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