Exploring the Intersection of Gender Identity and Eating Behaviours in Gender-Diverse Populations

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Endocrinology
• Sociology

Background:

• Gender-diverse individuals face higher risks of disordered eating due to body dissatisfaction, gender dysphoria, and minority stress.
• The specific impacts of gender identity and expression on eating behaviors within clinical populations require further investigation.
• This study explores the relationship between self-perceived masculinity, femininity, and gender variance with eating behaviors in gender-diverse adults undergoing gender-affirming care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how masculinity, femininity, and gender variance relate to eating behaviors in gender-diverse adults.
• To understand the influence of gender expression on disordered eating patterns within this population.
• To inform clinical assessment and intervention strategies for gender-diverse individuals with eating concerns.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-four adults (assigned female or male at birth) were recruited from a gender incongruence clinic.
• Participants completed the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) and the Gender Variance Scale (GVS).
• Regression models analyzed associations between gender traits (masculinity, femininity, gender variance) and eating behaviors, controlling for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) status.

Main Results:

• Masculinity positively correlated with cognitive restraint in eating.
• Femininity was associated with emotional and uncontrolled eating behaviors.
• Gender variance showed no significant direct relationship with eating behaviors, though exploratory analysis indicated a potential quadratic trend with dysregulated eating. Eating behaviors were not significantly different between those receiving GAHT and those not.

Conclusions:

• Gender expression, specifically masculinity and femininity, appears to be a more significant factor than gender variance in influencing eating behaviors among gender-diverse individuals.
• Clinical practice should incorporate an understanding of how masculinity and femininity influence specific eating patterns during assessment and treatment planning.
• Further research is warranted to explore the nuanced relationship between gender variance and dysregulated eating.