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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Disordered eating and gender identity disorder: a qualitative study.
Monica Ålgars1, Katarina Alanko, Pekka Santtila
1Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland. monica.algars@abo.fi
Eating Disorders
|June 19, 2012
Summary
Transgender adults frequently experience disordered eating, often linking thinness to gender expression. Gender reassignment surgery significantly improved disordered eating symptoms for most participants in this Finnish study.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gender Studies
- Health Sciences
Background:
- Disordered eating is a complex issue with potential links to gender identity.
- Transgender individuals may face unique challenges influencing their relationship with food and body image.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between disordered eating and gender identity in transgender adults.
- To understand transgender individuals' perspectives on the causes of disordered eating.
- To examine the impact of gender reassignment on eating behaviors and cognitions.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 transgender Finnish adults (11 female-to-male, 9 male-to-female).
- Qualitative analysis focused on participants' understanding of disordered eating causes and the effects of gender reassignment.
Main Results:
- A majority of participants reported current or past disordered eating.
- Striving for thinness was often described as a method to suppress biological gender features or enhance desired gender features.
- Gender reassignment was perceived by most as alleviating disordered eating symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Disordered eating is prevalent among transgender adults and is often intertwined with gender expression.
- Gender reassignment appears to have a positive impact on mitigating disordered eating in this population.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between gender identity and eating disorders.
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