Eating disorders in diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: study

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This study estimates the prevalence of eating disorders in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) men and women, and examines the association between participation in the gay community and eating disorder prevalence in gay and bisexual men.

METHOD: One hundred and twenty six white heterosexuals and 388 white, black, Latino LGB men and women were sampled from community venues.

DSM-IV diagnoses of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder were assessed using the World Health Organization’s Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: Gay and bisexual men had significantly higher prevalence estimates of eating disorders than heterosexual men.

There were no differences in eating disorder prevalence between lesbian and bisexual women and heterosexual women, or across gender or racial groups. Attending a gay recreational group was significantly related to eating disorder prevalence in gay and bisexual men. CONCLUSION: Researchers should study the causes of the high prevalence of eating disorders among gay and bisexual men.

Feldman MB, Meyer IH.
Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., New York, New York, USA.

Childhood abuse and eating disorders in gay and bisexual men
Objective:
This study examines the association between eating disorders and a history of childhood abuse in gay and bisexual men, and how substance abuse and depression might impact this relationship.

Method:
193 white, black, Latino gay, and bisexual men were sampled from community venues. DSM-IV diagnoses of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder were assessed using the World Health Organization’s Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Results:
Men with a history of childhood sexual abuse are significantly more likely to have subclinical bulimia or any current full-syndrome or subclinical eating disorder compared with men who do not have a history of childhood sexual abuse. A history of depression and/or substance use disorders did not mediate this relationship.

Conclusion:
Researchers should study other potential explanations of the relationship between a history of childhood abuse and eating disorders in gay and bisexual men. Clinicians working with gay and bisexual men who have a history of childhood abuse should assess for disordered eating as a potential mechanism to cope with the emotional sequelae associated with abuse. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007.

Funded by:
National Institute of Mental Health grant; Grant Number: R01-MH066058
Medical and Health Association of New York City, Inc. (MHRA)
National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse; Grant Number: 5T32 DA07233

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