Transgender individuals are four times more likely than their cisgender female counterparts to self-report an ED diagnosis, two times as likely to report ED symptomology, and have significantly higher rates of attempted or successful suicide. Thus, EDs in the trans community are horrifically rampant and especially dangerous. A transgender individual may develop an ED to create gendered features and conform to a masculine or feminine societal ideal. 

All of us who have suffered from or witnessed an ED in any capacity know how tied up to body image it is. Considering that transgender people live in a body that does not feel true or like home, these body image disturbances can become even more heightened: control of food becoming the mechanism by which to modify their appearances. A tragic contradiction.

Bibliography (show notes):

“Eating Disorders in the Transgender Community.” The Emily Program, 5 June 2020, www.emilyprogram.com/blog/eating-disorders-in-the-transgender-community/.

Ekern, Baxter. “Why Transgender People Are More Likely to Develop an Eating Disorder.” Eating Disorder Hope, 4 Sept. 2020, www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/transgender-people-likely-develop-eating-disorder.

Harvey, Rachel. “Eating Disorders Do Not Discriminate: Trans Teens Face Greater Risk - Penn Medicine.” Eating Disorders Do Not Discriminate: Trans Teens Face Greater Risk - Penn Medicine, www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2019/march/eating-disorders-do-not-discriminate-trans-teens-face-greater-risk.

“The High Risk of Eating Disorders in Trans Men and Women.” Eating Disorders in Trans Men and Women – San Diego –, 27 June 2019, www.sharp.com/health-news/the-high-risk-of-eating-disorders-in-trans-men-and-women.cfm.

Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD. “Eating Disorders in Transgender People.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 31 May 2021, www.verywellmind.com/eating-disorders-in-transgender-people-4582520.

O’Melia, Anne Marie. “What's Driving Eating Disorders in Trans Patients?” Medical News, MedpageToday, 3 July 2021, www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/93407.

Rebecca C. Kamody, Kimberly Yonkers, Emily I. Pluhar, and Christy L. Olezeski.LGBT Health.Jun 2020.170-173.http://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2019.0354

Savereide, Erik. “Gender Dysphoria and Eating Disorders.” Gender Dysphoria and Eating Disorders | Duke Center for Eating Disorders, eatingdisorders.dukehealth.org/education/resources/gender-dysphoria-and-eating-disorders. 

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