Age-Related Trends in Eating-Pathology Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Adults

To examine how eating-disorder symptoms vary by chronological age and sexual orientation in sexual minority adults.

Cross-sectional data came from 2062 cisgender sexual minority participants (925 gay men, 573 lesbian women, 116 bi+ men, 448 bi+ women; age = 47.8 years, range = 18-96). Eight subscales from the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory were examined. A multivariate multivariable general linear model tested main and interaction effects of age and sexual orientation; significant multivariate multivariable findings were probed with false-discovery-rate-adjusted univariate regressions.

Older age was associated with lower body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and muscle-building behaviours, but higher cognitive restraint and negative attitudes toward obesity. Age-by-group interactions indicated that body dissatisfaction and binge eating were higher among older cisgender bi+ women, whereas muscularity-oriented behaviours were lower in lesbian and bi+ women compared to gay men. Associations remained after socioeconomic covariate adjustment.

Findings suggested that levels of eating pathology varied based on age and across sexual minority groups. Bi+ women showed increasing body dissatisfaction and binge eating with age, while lesbian and bi+ women reported lower muscularity-oriented behaviours relative to gay men. Life-course prevention and treatment strategies should address identity-specific stress ecologies and the needs of adult sexual minority populations.