Regular Article

Eating disorders in diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations

  1. Matthew B. Feldman PhD1,2,*,
  2. Ilan H. Meyer PhD3

Article first published online: 29 JAN 2007

DOI: 10.1002/eat.20360

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 40, Issue 3, pages 218–226, April 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Feldman, M. B. and Meyer, I. H. (2007), Eating disorders in diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40: 218–226. doi: 10.1002/eat.20360

Author Information

  1. 1

    Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., New York, New York

  2. 2

    National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, New York

  3. 3

    Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, New York, New York

*National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 W. 23rd Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10010

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 FEB 2007
  2. Article first published online: 29 JAN 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 20 NOV 2006

Funded by

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse. Grant Number: 5T32 DA07233

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Keywords:

  • gay;
  • lesbian;
  • sexuality;
  • community

Abstract

Objective:

This study estimates the prevalence of eating disorders in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) men and women, and examines the association between participation in the gay community and eating disorder prevalence in gay and bisexual men.

Method:

One hundred and twenty six white heterosexuals and 388 white, black, Latino LGB men and women were sampled from community venues. DSM-IV diagnoses of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder were assessed using the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Results:

Gay and bisexual men had significantly higher prevalence estimates of eating disorders than heterosexual men. There were no differences in eating disorder prevalence between lesbian and bisexual women and heterosexual women, or across gender or racial groups. Attending a gay recreational group was significantly related to eating disorder prevalence in gay and bisexual men.

Conclusion:

Researchers should study the causes of the high prevalence of eating disorders among gay and bisexual men. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007

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