Variability in Eating Disorder Risk and Diagnosis in Transgender and Gender Diverse College Students

Purpose: To examine differences in elevated eating disorder risk and self-reported eating disorder diagnosis across subgroups of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) college students.

Methods: Data from 5057 TGD college students participating in the national Healthy Minds Study between 2014 and 2019 were analyzed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses examined heterogeneity in prevalence and odds of elevated eating disorder risk, as measured by the SCOFF, and self-reported eating disorder diagnosis by gender, as well as by intersecting gender and sexual orientation identities.

Results: Genderqueer and/or non-conforming college students reported the highest prevalence of elevated eating disorder risk (38.8%) relative to gender expansive students. Genderqueer and/or non-conforming (11.1%), gender expansive (12.3%), and trans men and/or transmasculine students (10.5%) reported higher prevalence of a self-reported eating disorder diagnosis relative to trans women and/or transfeminine students (6.3%). Heterosexual or straight trans men had lower odds of eating disorder risk and self-reported diagnosis relative to trans men with a minoritized sexual orientation.

Conclusions: Genderqueer and/or non-conforming college students may be at heightened eating disorder risk. Moreover, a heterosexual and/or straight sexual orientation was associated with lower odds of elevated eating disorder risk and self-reported eating disorder diagnoses among trans men and genderqueer and/or non-conforming college students, but this finding did not hold for other groups. College campuses should aim to reduce eating disorder risk among TGD students.