A scoping review of research literature on eating and body image for transgender and nonbinary youth

Journal of Eating Disorders

Review

Mark Oliveras¹  Katie Heiden-Rootes¹  Samantha Levine¹  Whitney Linsenmeyer²  Miriam Joseph³ 

[1] Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, 3700 Lindell Blvd., Ste 1100, 63108, St. Louis, MO, USA;Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA;University Libraries, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA;

关键词: Eating;    Body image;    Disordered eating;    Transgender;    Nonbinary;    Youth;    Young adult;    Adolescent;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40337-023-00853-5

 received in 2023-05-19, accepted in 2023-07-27,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTransgender and nonbinary (TGNB) adolescents and young adults are underrepresented in the literature on eating disorders and body image-related problems, despite increased mental health disparities and emerging research showing high associations between gender dysphoria, body image, and eating disorders among TGNB youth.AimsThe scoping review was designed to critically examine the research on TGNB adolescents and young adults who experience eating and body image related problems as well as clinical studies on treatment approaches and effectiveness.MethodPreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used for reporting this scoping review. The electronic databases of MEDLINE and PsychInfo were used for searching subject terms. Inclusion criteria for studies required the quantitative measurement or qualitative exploration of body image or eating for transgender minor children, adolescents, or young adult samples (18 to 25 years old) and address differences in eating/body-related problems by age. The relevant data was extracted and narratively summarized.Results49 studies were identified, data extracted, and analyzed. Increased prevalence of eating disorders and body image problems were identified for TGNB youth. Body-gender congruence through gender affirming social and medical interventions (e.g., hormone therapy) were noted as significant for alleviating body image problems and facilitating eating disorder treatment. Family and social factors were not well understood in the literature and a need for increased study of TGNB youth from varied racial/ethnic, neurodiverse, and within specific identities (e.g., nonbinary) and families and cultural contexts is still needed.ConclusionsFuture research should consider the use of developmental and family theories for guiding inclusion of salient social factors influencing eating patterns, body image, and treatment outcomes. In addition, more studies are needed with those from minoritized racial and ethnic groups, neurodiversity, and varied gender identities (e.g., nonbinary and gender queer) for identifying important differences.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023