Disordered Eating and Gender Identity Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The association between disordered eating and gender identity was examined in a sample of 20 (11 female-to-male, 9 male-to-female) transgender Finnish adults, aged 21-62 years. Using semi-structured interviews, participants' own understanding of the underlying causes of their disordered eating was analyzed, as well as the effect of gender reassignment on eating behaviors and cognitions. A majority of the participants reported current or past disordered eating. Participants most frequently described strive for thinness as an attempt to suppress features of one's biological gender, or accentuate features of one's desired gender. Gender reassignment was primarily perceived as alleviating symptoms of disordered eating.