Eating Disorder Symptoms and Concerns About Body Differ as a Function of Gender and Sexual Orientation

Abstract

This investigation studied eating disorder symptoms and psychosocial correlates of eating disorders among heterosexual females, lesbians, heterosexual males, and gay males. The dependent variables of the study measured: depression, concern for physical appearance, personal evaluation of physical appearance, perceived sociocultural pressure for thinness, media influences promoting thinness, and overconcern with body size/shape. A sample of 41 2 young adults was studied, in cluding 97 heterosexual males, 1 16 heterosexual females, 1 10 gay males, and 89 lesbians. Heterosexual females were found to report the highest level of eating dis order symptoms and concern with body size/shape. Heterosexual males reported the lowest level of eating disorder symptoms and concern with body size/shape, with gay males and lesbians falling between these two groups. Lesbians reported the least concern for physical appearance. Of the variables which were studied, overconcern with body size/shape was the strongest psychosocial correlate of eat ing disorder symptoms in heterosexual females, gay males, and lesbians. We con cluded that eating disorder symptoms and concerns about body size were similar for heterosexual females, gay males, and lesbians, but weie quite different for het erosexual males.Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are strongly associated with the female gender (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Males account for ap proximately 10% of cases diagnosed with an eating disorder (Anderson, 1992), and homosexual males account for approximately 30% of the males who are diagnosed with an eating disorder

Eating disorders in diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations

“…We found that gay and bisexual men have a higher prevalence of eating disorders than heterosexual men, which is consistent with our hypothesis based on the socio-cultural perspective and with reports in the literature. 8,9,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]44 We also found that the prevalence of eating disorders among lesbians and bisexual women is comparable to heterosexual women. Past research on lesbians and eating disorders has yielded mixed results.…”

Overweight and Obesity in Sexual-Minority Women: Evidence From Population-Based Data

“…[9][10][11] The results of these studies indicate that lesbian women have a better body image than do heterosexual women and prioritize a body image on the basis of physical function. [12][13][14][15][16] The evidence is inconclusive regarding lesbians' exercise behaviors. It has been argued that lesbians are heavier, but more physically fit, because of their level of physical activity.…”

Childhood abuse and eating disorders in gay and bisexual men

“…Studies have shown that gay and bisexual men with a history of childhood abuse are more likely than their counterparts to have substance use problems 16,19 and depression, 16,34,35 while others have shown that disordered eating and depression are associated in gay and bisexual men. 1,7,8,36 Based on these results we hypothesize gay and bisexual men with a history of childhood abuse (including physical and sexual abuse) would be more likely to have eating disorders as adults, and that major depression and substance use disorders mediate this relationship.…”