Trans Youth Are Significantly More Likely to Have an Eating Disorder

[stephaniec]

Trans Youth Are Significantly More Likely to Have an Eating Disorder

https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/trans-youth-are-significantly-more-likely-to-have-an-eating-disorder

Broadly Vice/by Claudia McNeilly Dec 1, 2015 3:20 PM

"Eating disorders are typically associated with cisgender women, but research shows that trans youth are four times more likely to suffer from them. "

[suzifrommd]

Being trans was a MAJOR factor in my eating disorder.

I've been saying for years that eating disorder sufferers should be screened for being trans.

[takotsubo]

Yeah, me too. It's not that strange, really. For FTM's the eating disorder leads to a more boyish body type, and - in young sufferers - delays puberty. For me as an MTF it was a) an outlet for the hate I felt towards my body, and b) a way to become a part of the stereotypically female world of dieting.

[takotsubo]

Maybe I should add that an eating disorder is a TERRIBLE and sometimes lethal way to alter your body, and in no way a substitute for a transition. Messing with what you eat is pretty much a foolproof way to make everything in your live worse.

[captains]

The least surprising thing I've read in a while. I confused my dysphoria for a more general dysmorphia for years ("Hm, it's funny how I look super fat and weird... but only in my hips and bust..." -- me in high school) and after I came out, I was repeatedly told by other FTM/transmasculine people that the only solution to my hip dysphoria was to drop weight, drop weight, drop weight. I mean, here's what's suggested on FTM Guide:

Step one is to slim down. I mean really slim down, past even the ideal for cis women.

I lost 20 lbs and got real strange about diet and exercise, but I consider myself lucky that things didn't escalate emotionally to the place of an eating disorder. Still, sometimes it's hard for me to shake that voice that says "22% body fat? Uh, that's medically overweight... maybe even obese... :/"*

* For a cis man

[BubblegumSquish]

I've always hated my body and as a result had eating disorder issues since age 15 which are only just now stabilizing as I accept aspects of myself and follow my heart. Looking back I can now see being trans as being the primary cause for food issues..
I wish I had have known earlier

[Elis]

Not sure if this is considered an eating disorder and I don't mean to diminish other people's genuine experiences. I've had issues with food since puberty. My dad and brother would make jokes that I was chubby. I started eating two meals a day, mostly one partly because I couldn't be bothered to eat partly because I didn't want to become chubbier.  I then started eating a lot of junk food during college because I started having depression, which became worse when I had to live with my grandma. Before I didn't gain weight because I hardly ate even though my diet was poor, during that time I started to gain weight as I had more access to junk food and my depression became worse (I think my heaviest was 10 stone 5 pounds). I have since slowly improved but still eat too much junk food if my depression becomes worse but don't allow myself to be bigger than 10 stone. And I still am constantly scared of gaining too much weight bcos I look chubby which makes my face look fem. I've gained 4 pounds recently which I'm trying to lose. I've just started to accept that being chubby is just my body type and realising that being slim isn't more 'normal'. Wish I was taught this in school. Plus I'm starting to realise all my food issues probably aren't normal.

Anyway I'm blathering.

[Elis]

Being trans was a MAJOR factor in my eating disorder.

I've been saying for years that eating disorder sufferers should be screened for being trans.

An interesting idea, definitely. Anorexia and bulimia was only taught in my school, it would have been great if body dysmorphia was also included as well.

[in.Chains]

I'm doubt very much that trans people are dealing with eating disorders due to being trans, but rather they are likely the result of dysphoria, depression and anxiety that are part of being trans.

I can say that I personally have had eating problems as well, specifically binge-eating disorder (BED). It's absolutely frustrating, and ridiculously difficult to control, and it's made body issues worse, but I thankfully began taking vyvanse for my ADHD, and it happens to treat BED as well, and that made a world difference for me in controlling this issue.