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Evaluation ViewAttendees 3

Category: LGBTQ+

Symposium 145 - Weight Bias and Disordered Eating among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals

Sunday, November 19, 2023
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM PST
Location: Skagit (603), Level 6
CE: 1

Keywords: LGBTQ+, Underserved Populations, Eating
Level of Familiarity: Moderate
Recommended Readings: Nagata, J. M., Ganson, K. T., & Austin, S. B. (2020). Emerging trends in eating disorders among sexual and gender minorities. Current opinion in psychiatry, 33(6), 562.,   Mason, T. B., Lewis, R. J., & Heron, K. E. (2017). Indirect pathways connecting sexual orientation and weight discrimination to disordered eating among young adult lesbians. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4(2), 193.,   Roberts, S. R., Maheux, A. J., Watson, R. J., Puhl, R. M., & Choukas‐Bradley, S. (2022). Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents' disordered eating: Exploring general and SGM‐specific factors. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 55(7), 933-946.,   Panza, E., Fehling, K. B., Pantalone, D. W., Dodson, S., & Selby, E. A. (2021). Multiply marginalized: Linking minority stress due to sexual orientation, gender, and weight to dysregulated eating among sexual minority women of higher body weight. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 8(4), 420.,   Austen, E., & Griffiths, S. (2022). Weight stigma predicts reduced psychological wellbeing and weight gain among sexual minority men: A 12-month longitudinal cohort study using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Body Image, 40, 19-29.

Sexual and gender minority individuals are at higher risk for weight stigma and internalized (i.e., self-directed) weight bias. Additionally, sexual and gender minority individuals have higher rates of disordered eating than individuals who do not belong to these groups. Studies using heterosexual and cis-gendered individuals demonstrate a relationship between weight bias and disordered eating cognitions and behaviors. However, research investigating the relationship between weight-based stigma and disordered eating in the LGBTQ+ community is limited. Hence, the purpose of this symposium is to present emerging research examining weight stigma as a risk factor for disordered eating and related behaviors among sexual and gender minority individuals.

First, Dr. Margaret Sala will present her research on eating disorder recognition, perceptions and gender identity. Second, Benjamin Shepherd will present research on interminority body size/shape stigma, demographic factors, and community involvement in a sample of size-diverse, gay men. Third, Shruti Kinkel-Ram will present research on weight stigma and internalized weight bias among higher-weight sexual minority folx. Fourth, Connor Elbe will present findings from a qualitative study examining weight stigmatizing experiences in larger-bodied, sexual minority men within the context of casual sexual encounters. Fifth, Dr. Emma Austen will present her research on experiences of weight stigma among sexual minority men. Finally, Dr. Zachary Soulliard, an expert on stigma, LGBTQ+ health, and disordered eating, will serve as discussant.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
  • Understand the relation between weight bias and increased disordered eating and related behaviors in sexual and gender minority folx.
  • Examine the intersections of weight bias and LGBTQ+ discrimination among sexual and gender minority individuals.
  • Learn about the psychological health implications of weight bias experienced by sexual and gender minority individuals.
  • Recognize the clinical symptoms of disordered eating and related mental health concerns among sexual and gender minority individuals.
  • Learn the importance of assessing minority stress factors related to weight-based and sexual/gender minority stress in a therapeutic setting.