Investigating the biopsychosocial factors impacting eating disorder/disordered eating etiology, treatment, and advocacy within the LGBTQIA+ community

Abstract

Eating disorders are an increasingly urgent issue in both healthcare and society, with rising prevalence discriminating against no one. Yet, eating disorders may impact certain populations at disproportionate rates such as the LGBTQIA+ community. A variety of factors may influence this spike in rates: biological, psychological, sociological, and cultural. Each category must be acknowledged in working towards trans and queer patients' recovery and liberation, as discourse surrounding eating disorders tends to follow a feedback-like pattern and feeds into itself to provide a holistic and dynamic final view. With respect to this, it is imperative that at least three separate facets of eating disorder experiences be considered: etiology, or causes of disease; advocacy, or how to increase visibility of both disease and specific groups impacted by it; and treatment, remediation of disease symptoms. Most important, these efforts must maintain a forward view and work to relieve current limitations such as inadequate research and hegemonic care systems while not capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ trauma nor undermining the immense, beautiful diversity within these people.