Eating disorders Archives - Stats for Gender https://statsforgender.org/category/eating-disorders/ Providing reliable and accessible information on gender and transition. Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:17:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://statsforgender.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/favicon-150x150.png Eating disorders Archives - Stats for Gender https://statsforgender.org/category/eating-disorders/ 32 32 “Gender questioning” adolescents may have very high rates of disordered eating. https://statsforgender.org/gender-questioning-adolescents-may-have-very-high-rates-of-disordered-eating/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:15:59 +0000 https://statsforgender.org/?p=3098 In a cross-sectional study1 of 660 Australian adolescents described as “trans,” “non-binary” and “gender questioning,” adolescents who reported feeling unsure about their “gender identity” had the highest rates of nearly all symptoms of anorexia and bulimia.

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]]> In a cross-sectional study1 of 660 Australian adolescents described as “trans,” “non-binary” and “gender questioning,” adolescents who reported feeling unsure about their “gender identity” had the highest rates of nearly all symptoms of anorexia and bulimia.

  1. Kerr JA, Paine J, Thrower E, Hoq M, Mollica C, Sawyer SM, Azzopardi PS, Pang KC. Prevalence of Eating Disorder Symptoms in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents Presenting for Gender-Affirming Care. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2024 Apr;74(4):850-853. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.11.396. Epub 2024 Jan 9. PMID: 38206224.
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]]> Nearly a quarter of adolescents seeking “gender-affirming care” report symptoms of anorexia. https://statsforgender.org/nearly-a-quarter-of-adolescents-seeking-gender-affirming-care-report-symptoms-of-anorexia/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:10:52 +0000 https://statsforgender.org/?p=3094 In a cross-sectional study1 of 660 Australian adolescents described as “trans,” “non-binary” and “gender questioning,” 23.9% reported symptoms of anorexia. Prevalence of disordered eating was more common in female patients than in male, regardless of whether they identified as trans or non-binary.

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]]> In a cross-sectional study1 of 660 Australian adolescents described as “trans,” “non-binary” and “gender questioning,” 23.9% reported symptoms of anorexia. Prevalence of disordered eating was more common in female patients than in male, regardless of whether they identified as trans or non-binary.

  1. Kerr JA, Paine J, Thrower E, Hoq M, Mollica C, Sawyer SM, Azzopardi PS, Pang KC. Prevalence of Eating Disorder Symptoms in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents Presenting for Gender-Affirming Care. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2024 Apr;74(4):850-853. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.11.396. Epub 2024 Jan 9. PMID: 38206224. ↩︎

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]]> Young people with “trans” identities are much more likely to have an eating disorder. https://statsforgender.org/young-people-with-trans-identities-are-much-more-likely-to-have-an-eating-disorder/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:01:26 +0000 https://statsforgender.org/?p=3090 A study1 of data concerning 289,024 students from 223 U.S. universities found that students with a “trans” identity were almost four times more likely to have a self-reported eating disorder (OR: 4.62, 95% CI: 3.41-6.26) than their straight female peers. They were also about twice as likely to report past month use of diet pills […]

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]]> A study1 of data concerning 289,024 students from 223 U.S. universities found that students with a “trans” identity were almost four times more likely to have a self-reported eating disorder (OR: 4.62, 95% CI: 3.41-6.26) than their straight female peers. They were also about twice as likely to report past month use of diet pills (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.48-2.83) and vomiting or laxatives (OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.83-3.30).

  1. Diemer EW, Grant JD, Munn-Chernoff MA, Patterson DA, Duncan AE. Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Eating-Related Pathology in a National Sample of College Students. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2015 Aug;57(2):144-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Apr 28. PMID: 25937471; PMCID: PMC4545276. ↩︎

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]]> Up to half of trans-identified children show disordered eating. https://statsforgender.org/up-to-half-of-trans-identified-children-show-disordered-eating/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:12:53 +0000 https://statsforgender.org/?p=3086 In an analysis1 of research conducted in 2022-23, 20-50% of children expressing a “trans” identity reported engaging in some form of disordered eating. More than 30% screened positive for eating disorder symptoms, and up to 12% had received an eating disorder diagnosis.

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]]> In an analysis1 of research conducted in 2022-23, 20-50% of children expressing a “trans” identity reported engaging in some form of disordered eating. More than 30% screened positive for eating disorder symptoms, and up to 12% had received an eating disorder diagnosis.

  1. Keski-Rahkonen A. Eating disorders in transgender and gender diverse people: characteristics, assessment, and management. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2023 Nov 1;36(6):412-418. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000902. Epub 2023 Aug 29. PMID: 37781981.
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]]> There seems to be a connection between disordered eating patterns and gender-related distress https://statsforgender.org/eating-disorders-may-develop-due-to-gender-related-distress/ Tue, 05 Oct 2021 20:15:33 +0000 https://4014552f3f.nxcli.io/?p=943 In a review1 of 20 publications, a consistent theme emerged: transgender youth (aged 8 to 25) engaged in food restriction and/or compensatory eating behaviors to prevent puberty onset or progression. The review suggested that, for some transgender youth, these behaviors may be understood as a means of coping with gender-related distress. However, the exact nature of […]

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]]> In a review1 of 20 publications, a consistent theme emerged: transgender youth (aged 8 to 25) engaged in food restriction and/or compensatory eating behaviors to prevent puberty onset or progression.

The review suggested that, for some transgender youth, these behaviors may be understood as a means of coping with gender-related distress. However, the exact nature of this observed connection is uncertain.

  1. Coelho, J., Suen, J., Clark, B., Marshall, S., Geller, J. & Lam, P.-Y. (2019). Eating Disorder Diagnoses and Symptom Presentation in Transgender Youth: a Scoping Review. Current Psychiatry Reports 21. [Link] ↩︎

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]]> Transgender-identified youth are disproportionately likely to suffer from eating disorders https://statsforgender.org/transgender-identified-youth-are-disproportionately-likely-to-suffer-from-eating-disorders/ Tue, 05 Oct 2021 20:00:43 +0000 https://4014552f3f.nxcli.io/?p=938 In a review1 of 20 publications, significantly higher rates of eating disorder symptoms were documented in transgender youth (aged between 8 and 25). Another study2 corroborated this connection, noting that data, while scarce, suggest “an overrepresentation of eating pathology among adolescents with GD [gender dysphoria] or transgender identity.”

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]]> In a review1 of 20 publications, significantly higher rates of eating disorder symptoms were documented in transgender youth (aged between 8 and 25).

Another study2 corroborated this connection, noting that data, while scarce, suggest “an overrepresentation of eating pathology among adolescents with GD [gender dysphoria] or transgender identity.”

  1. Coelho, J., Suen, J., Clark, B., Marshall, S., Geller, J. & Lam, P.-Y. (2019). Eating Disorder Diagnoses and Symptom Presentation in Transgender Youth: a Scoping Review. Current Psychiatry Reports 21. [Link] ↩︎
  2. Kaltiala-Heino, R., Bergman, H., Työläjärvi, M., & Frisén, L. (2018). Gender dysphoria in adolescence: current perspectives. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics 9, 31–41. [Link] ↩︎

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