The association between sexual orientation, susceptibility to social messages and disordered eating in men

Gigi, Ido; Bachner‐Melman, Rachel; Lev‐Ari, Lilac

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2015.12.027

Cited by 37 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Early research findings suggest that gay adults reported more frequent dieting and greater dietary restraint, more binge eating, less control over their eating behaviors, more purging, and more exercise than heterosexual men [ 56 , 99 , 139 ] and these findings are supported by more contemporary research. Compared to heterosexual men, gay adults reported increased rates of binge eating, disordered eating behaviors, unhealthy weight control behaviors, food addiction, and diagnosed clinical eating disorders, in addition to poorer physical activity ([ 10 , 20 , 27 , 54 , 58 , 67 , 113 , 127 , 137 , 141 , 145 , 146 , 149 , 152 , 159 , 161 , 172 , 173 ]).…”

Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results discussed above are further supported by findings of greater body dissatisfaction, (i.e., poor body image, body image anxiety, drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, shape concerns, weight concerns), sociocultural influence (i.e., internalization of the thin ideal, susceptibility to advertising on physical appearances), eating concerns, frequency of engaging in conversations about appearances, and appearance orientation in gay adults compared to heterosexual men [ 2 , 15 , 36 , 56 , 58 , 85 , 99 , 100 , 126 , 146 , 172 , 173 ]. Additionally, in one study, 63% of the gay participants reported basing their self-worth on their weight status, in addition to approximately one-half experiencing dissatisfaction with their eating patterns [ 14 ].…”

Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Factors related to gender attitudes included negative femininity, gender role conflict, and greater levels of femininity [ 17 , 99 , 131 ]. Factors related to intrapsychic functioning included susceptibility to social messages, low self-esteem, low self-compassion, and media internalization[ 14 , 15 , 36 , 43 , 58 , 82 , 96 , 131 , 136 , 156 ]. Factors related to body image included awareness of sociocultural norms regarding weight, implicit and explicit attitudes regarding weight, external motivation for working out, engaging in behaviors to increase muscle mass, pressure to diet, and body image disturbance [ 10 , 15 , 24 , 43 , 49 , 142 , 146 , 156 ].…”

Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

2020

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Background According to past research, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience a higher prevalence of psychopathology, which is attributable to the increased stress (i.e., stigma and prejudice) that they experience, as detailed by the minority stress model (MSM). Main This current literature review examined the empirical literature regarding the rates and types of, and risk factors for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in LGBT adults and adolescents, in addition to each individual subgroup (i.e., lesbians, gay males, bisexuals, transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals). Conclusion LGBT adults and adolescents experience greater incidence of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. Additionally, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults and adolescents were all at increased risk for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. Mixed results were found for lesbian adults and adolescents. Results are discussed within the framework of the MSM.

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Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating Behaviors Within Lgbtmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

2020

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“…However, more research is needed to confirm these points. The data in the literature seem to be more consistent when it comes to the higher prevalence of body dissatisfaction in gay than in heterosexual men, which is probably due to the emphasis placed on physical appearance in the gay culture and because of pressure from social and interpersonal factors [9,[26][27][28]. For example, it has been suggested that-due to different beauty ideals and their minority status-gay men are slightly more vulnerable to body dissatisfaction than heterosexual men [29][30][31][32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The role of sexual orientation in the relationships between body perception, body weight dissatisfaction, physical comparison, and eating psychopathology in the cisgender population

et al. 2020

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Purpose Body weight dissatisfaction (BWD) and visual body perception are specific aspects that can influence the own body image, and that can concur with the development or the maintenance of specific psychopathological dimensions of different psychiatric disorders. The sexual orientation is a fundamental but understudied aspect in this field, and, for this reason, the purpose of this study is to improve knowledge about the relationships among BWD, visual body size-perception, and sexual orientation. Methods A total of 1033 individuals participated in an online survey. Physical comparison, depression, and self-esteem was evaluated, as well as sexual orientation and the presence of an eating disorder. A Figure Rating Scale was used to assess different valences of body weight, and mediation analyses were performed to investigated specific relationships between psychological aspects. Results Bisexual women and gay men reported significantly higher BWD than other groups (p < 0.001); instead, higher body misperception was present in gay men (p = 0.001). Physical appearance comparison mediated the effect of sexual orientation in both BWD and perceptual distortion. No difference emerged between women with a history of eating disorders and without, as regards the value of body weight attributed to attractiveness, health, and presence on social media. Conclusion This study contributes to understanding the relationship between sexual orientations and body image representation and evaluation. Physical appearance comparisons should be considered as critical psychological factors that can improve and affect well-being. The impact on subjects with high levels of eating concerns is also discussed. Level of evidence Level III: case–control analytic study.

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“…This 8-item questionnaire (e.g., “Have you felt excessively large and rounded?”) has good psychometric properties and high sensitivity ( Pook et al, 2008 ). Responses are scored on a six-point Likert scale and the Hebrew translation used ( Gigi et al, 2016 ) yielded an alpha Cronbach of 0.96.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lives on the Line: The Online Lives of Girls and Women With and Without a Lifetime Eating Disorder Diagnosis

et al. 2018

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This study aimed to compare the scope, internet use patterns, and degree of online need satisfaction of girls and women with and without a lifetime eating disorder (ED) diagnosis. Participants were 122 females aged 12–30, 53 with a lifetime ED diagnosis recruited via a hospital-based treatment program, and 69 age-matched controls recruited via normative social media sites. Participants completed questionnaires assessing disordered eating, body image, positive and negative affect, general distress, and life satisfaction, and completed an online survey about the scope of their internet use, the frequency of watching and posting pictures and videos, online friendships and social comparison, fulfillment of needs online, and mood after internet use. All questionnaire scores differed significantly between groups in the expected directions. Whereas overall, ED and control groups spent similar amounts of time online (6.21, SD = 5.13), they spent this time differently. ED participants reported devoting 56.7% of their online time to eating, weight and body image, versus 29.1% for controls, and spent significantly more time than controls on forums and blogs (t = -5.3, p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 0.87). They also engaged more often in social comparison (t = 3.6, p < 0.005, Cohen’s d = 0.65), had a higher online–offline friend ratio (t = 3.7, p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 0.65), and more online friends with ED (t = 5.4, p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = 0.89). In comparison to controls, ED participants reported that their use of forums and blogs gave them more eating- and weight-related advice, and a greater sense of belonging, social support, and safety resulting from anonymity, with effect sizes of 0.63–0.96. However, they also reported more negative affect after posting online. Most online behaviors and patterns correlated positively with measures of symptomatology and negatively with measures of psychological health, in both groups. Internet use was rarely addressed in therapy. Professionals, families and friends should help people with disordered eating and EDs to broaden the scope of their internet use. They should invest less in food- and weight-related forums/blogs, expand their “real life” social lives and develop their interpersonal skills, so that their legitimate needs can be satisfied face-to-face, rather than virtually. Clinicians should address the online lives of their ED clients in therapy.

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The association between sexual orientation, susceptibility to social messages and disordered eating in men

Cited by 37 publications

References 67 publications

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature

The role of sexual orientation in the relationships between body perception, body weight dissatisfaction, physical comparison, and eating psychopathology in the cisgender population

Lives on the Line: The Online Lives of Girls and Women With and Without a Lifetime Eating Disorder Diagnosis

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