Disordered eating in transgender and gender non‐conforming youth: A comparison to community‐based and clinical samples.

FOOD habits; CONFIDENCE intervals; ONE-way analysis of variance; GENDER-nonconforming people; COMPARATIVE studies; PEARSON correlation (Statistics); PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; QUESTIONNAIRES; CHI-squared test; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; COGNITIVE testing; LOGISTIC regression analysis; ODDS ratio; DATA analysis software; EATING disorders; TRANSGENDER people; ADOLESCENCE

Objective: This study investigates eating pathology in transgender and gender non‐conforming (TGNC) youth compared to a community‐based sample and individuals with eating disorders (EDs). Method: Participants (ages 13–21 years) included TGNC youth from a paediatric gender clinic (N = 97), a demographically matched community‐based sample of cisgender males (N = 97) and cisgender females (N = 97), and treatment‐seeking patients with EDs (N = 112). The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) was used to assess ED cognitions and behaviours. Results: Transgender and gender non‐conforming participants reported significantly higher EDE‐Q global scores compared to the cisgender samples, but significantly lower than the ED sample. Transgender and gender non‐conforming individuals reported a higher likelihood of objective binge episodes (OBEs) than the cisgender groups, albeit lower than youth with EDs. A substantial proportion of TGNC participants scored in elevated ranges on the EDE‐Q global score (35% ≥ score of 3, 17% ≥ score of 4), significantly higher than cisgender males (0% ≥ score of 3, 0% ≥ score of 4) and females (9% ≥ score of 3, 3% ≥ score of 4). Conclusions: Findings indicate that TGNC youth exhibit increased ED cognitions and OBEs compared to cisgender samples, highlighting the need for screening and addressing ED symptoms in this population. Highlights: Transgender and gender non‐conforming (TGNC) youth endorsed significantly higher levels of eating disorder (ED) cognitions and behaviours compared to the cisgender samples, but lower levels than youth with EDs.TGNC youth were more likely to report objective binge episodes (OBEs) than the cisgender male and female groups, although their likelihood was lower than that of youth with EDs.A significant proportion of TGNC participants scored in elevated ranges on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) Global score, significantly higher than the cisgender male and female groups, which emphasises the need for screening and addressing ED symptoms in TGNC youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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