Transgender and Gender-diverse Identity in Patients with Eating Disorders: A National Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal Eur Eat Disord Rev

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2024 Oct 19

PMID 39425898

Authors

Sofie M Rasmussen

Loa Clausen

Astrid D Hojgaard

Maria L Pop

Mikkel K Kjeldsen

Jeanie M Egedal

Gry Kjaersdam Telleus

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This national study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the transgender and gender-diverse identity and to assess the level of gender congruence, body dissatisfaction and quality of life among patients with eating disorders in Denmark.

Method: Patients with eating disorders were compared to a matched non-clinical comparison group. The survey included the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and assessment of body dissatisfaction, gender congruence and quality of life.

Results: In total 568 patients with eating disorders and 538 individuals from the non-clinical comparison group were included. The prevalence of individuals identifying as transgender or gender-diverse was 4.50% (n = 20) among patients with eating disorders, and 6.23% (n = 23) in the non-clinical comparison group (p-value = 0.276). The transgender and gender-diverse individuals with eating disorders showed no statistically significant differences in eating disorder symptomatology compared to the cisgender individuals with eating disorders; however, they reported significantly more body dissatisfaction, less gender congruence and lower quality of life.

Conclusion: The prevalence of transgender and gender-diverse individuals did not differ between patients with eating disorders and the non-clinical comparison group; however, transgender and gender-diverse individuals with eating disorders may be characterised by pronounced body dissatisfaction and low quality of life.

Citing Articles

Eating disorder symptomatology among transgender and gender-diverse individuals: a cross-sectional study.

Rasmussen S, Clausen L, Pop M, Hojgaard A, Kjeldsen M, Telleus G J Eat Disord. 2025; 13(1):30.

PMID: 39962615 PMC: 11834212. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01212-2.

Transgender and gender-diverse identity in patients with eating disorders: A national cross-sectional study.

Rasmussen S, Clausen L, Hojgaard A, Pop M, Kjeldsen M, Egedal J Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2024; 33(2):239-253.

PMID: 39425898 PMC: 11786936. DOI: 10.1002/erv.3143.

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