Skip to main content

Lesbian & Gay Teens Have Twice the Odds for Binge-Eating Disorders

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Oct. 19, 2023 -- Stigma can take a toll on lesbian, gay and bisexual teens, leading to high rates of binge-eating disorders, researchers say.

Compared to their non-LGBTQ peers, lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are more than twice as likely to report binge eating, according to a new study.

Bullying, discrimination and stigma because of sexual orientation can be stressors that lead to poor self-esteem and disordered eating, explained lead study author Dr. Jason Nagata. He is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

“Binge eating can result in psychological effects like depression and anxiety, and long-term physical health problems, including diabetes and heart disease,” Nagata added in a university news release.

With binge eating, the individual frequently consumes unusually large amounts of food and feels unable to stop eating. It is the most common eating disorder in the United States, but is understudied and often misunderstood, according to background notes in the study.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 10,000 adolescents aged 10 to 14 years old who were part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. Data was from 2018 to 2020.

Parents were asked about their children’s eating behaviors. Youths reported their sexual orientation.

“Adolescents with eating disorders should seek professional help. Eating disorders are best supported by an interdisciplinary team, including a mental health, medical, and nutrition provider,” Nagata said. “Given the higher risk of eating disorders in LGBTQ+ youth, it is important that health care providers foster a welcoming environment to youth of all sexual orientations and genders.”

Kids from low-income families also had higher odds of binge eating, according to the report published online Oct. 13 in the Journal of Eating Disorders.

Sources

  • University of California, San Francisco, news release, Oct. 13, 2023

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted October 2023

Read this next

Eating Disorders Common in People With Type 1 Diabetes

THURSDAY, May 9, 2024 -- One in every four people age 16 or older with type 1 diabetes may be struggling with an eating disorder, a new review of data on the subject finds. Type...

Stigma, Shame Hit Many Gay Men Affected by Mpox Outbreak

FRIDAY, April 19, 2024 -- A British study finds that beyond the physical pain and turmoil of an mpox diagnosis, many of the mostly gay and bisexual men infected during the 2022...

Food-Focused Toddlers at Higher Risk for Eating Disorders as Teens

FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2024 -- Toddlers who are really into their food might have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder once they enter adolescence, a new study shows. Kids...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.