Eating disorder diagnoses and symptom presentation in transgender youth: A scoping review
Abstract
Purpose of review This scoping review includes recent literature on eating disorder diagnoses and evaluation of eating disorder symptom presentation among transgender youth (ages 8-25).Recent findings A total of 20 publications from the previous 5 years were identified, including case reports, retrospective chart reviews, and surveys. Significantly higher rates of eating disorder symptoms were documented in transgender youth compared to cisgender youth. Similarly, some studies reported transgender youth were more likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder than cisgender youth, though the proportion of youth with eating disorder diagnoses varied across studies. A consistent theme across case studies was engagement in food restriction and/or compensatory eating behaviors to prevent puberty onset or progression, suggesting that for some transgender youth, these behaviors may be understood as a means of coping with gender-related distress. Clinical care could be enhanced through establishment of best practices for screening in settings offering eating disorder treatment and gender-affirming care, as well as greater collaboration among these programs. Research is needed to validate eating disorder measures for use with transgender youth and evaluate the effects of eating disorder treatment and gender-affirming medical interventions on the well-being of transgender youth.
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A review of research on eating disorder symptoms and diagnoses among transgender youth ages 8-25 found significantly higher rates of symptoms compared to cisgender peers, and some studies showed a higher likelihood of eating disorder diagnoses.
“A review of research on eating disorder symptoms and diagnoses among transgender youth ages 8–25 found significantly higher rates of symptoms compared to cisgender peers, and some studies showed a higher likelihood of eating disorder diagnoses (Coelho et al., 2019).”
From Exploring transgender adolescents’ body image concerns and disordered eating: Semi-structured interviews with nine gender minority youth (2021) · cites this paper as Coelho et al., 2019
In some cases, disordered eating behaviors may be used to minimize the appearance of secondary sex characteristics.
“in some cases, disordered eating behaviors may be used to minimize the appearance of secondary sex characteristics (Bockting & Allen, 2012; Coelho et al., 2019).”
From Exploring transgender adolescents’ body image concerns and disordered eating: Semi-structured interviews with nine gender minority youth (2021) · cites this paper as Coelho et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Coelho, J. S., Suen, J., Clark, D. B. A., Marshall, S. K., Geller, J., & Lam, P.-Y.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- BC Children's Hospital (CA)
- Brandeis University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Coelho, Jennifer S.
- Venue
- Current Psychiatry Reports
- Published
- 2019-10-15
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 107-107
- ISSN
- 1523-3812 (ISSN-L)
- 1535-1645
- OpenAlex
- W2980361038
- Cited by
- 185
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 12
- FWCI
- 2.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Psychiatry Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- eating disorders, transgender youth, eating disorder symptoms, gender-affirming care, puberty suppression, dietary restriction, eating disorder screening, eating disorder treatment
- MeSH terms
- Feeding and Eating Disorders, Feeding Behavior, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Male, Transgender Persons
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