How to help a friend with an eating disorder

By Finnick Brisson  

Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge eating disorder, Avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder, are just some examples of eating disorders that can impact anyone.  University students are alarmingly vulnerable to eating disorders, and when you add minority identity to it, the risk becomes even higher.  

LGBTQ young people experience significantly greater rates of both eating disorders compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers (Johns et al., 2020; Parker & Harriger, 2020). 

What is an eating disorder? (NEDIC) 

Eating disorders are serious but treatable for mental and physical illnesses that can affect anyone. These disorders are defined as an obsession with food, appearance, and weight. Many factors can influence the development of an eating disorder. 

  • Biological: these include genetics and physiology 
  • Psychological: these include personality traits, emotion regulation, and other existing mental health conditions 
  • Social and cultural: these include family and peer influences, appearance standards, and discrimination 

LGBTQ+ community and eating disorders 

  • LGBTQ+ youth who have ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder had nearly four times greater odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who have never suspected nor had an eating disorder diagnosis.
  • LGBTQ+ adults and adolescents experience greater incidence of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts.
  • Nearly nine in ten (87%) LGBTQ+ youth reported being dissatisfied with their body.
  • Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at greater risk for food insecurity, eating disorders, and depression, particularly those who identify as trans males.
  • Transgender college students are over four times more likely than their cisgender counterparts to report an eating disorder diagnosis.
  • Rates of eating disorders were even greater for transgender and nonbinary youth – particularly among transgender boys/men and nonbinary youth assigned female at birth (Trevor project, 2022)

How to support your friend

  • Talk about topics other than eating disorders 
  • Offer help with grocery shopping  
  • Educate yourself 
  • Avoid body comments 
  • Separate the person from the eating disorder 
  • Be patient 

What not to say:

  • Just eat  
  • But you look great! 
  • You don’t look sick 
  • I Wish I had self-control 
  • You’re so lucky 

Campus Resources

Past SWC Articles 

Exploring Gender Identity: Navigating a Medical Transition – Student Wellness Centre 

Exploring Gender Identity: Social Transitioning – Student Wellness Centre 

We’re Here and We’re Queer: Navigating Queer Identity in Heteronormative Spaces Student Wellness Centre 

https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/binge-eating-disorders-the-prevasity-of-eating-disorders-among-university-students/ 

Navigating Gender Dysphoria – Student Wellness Centre

  

Support groups at The Student Wellness Centre

Embracing Gender Diversity (Drop-in) – Student Wellness Centre 

Mindfulness Approach to Food – Student Wellness Centre 

  

Community supports

Eating Disorder Support | Body Brave 

 

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, contact your doctor or book an appointment  with the Student Wellness Centre to learn about treatment options at 905-525-9140 ext. 27700

  

References

The Trevor Project. (2022). Eating Disorders among LGBTQ Youth. https://doi.org/10.70226/YAMY7874 

  

The Trevor Project. (2022). Research Brief: Eating Disorders among LGBTQ Youth. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/eating-disorders-among-lgbtq-youth-feb-2022/ 

  

Parker, L. L., & Harriger, J. A. (2020). Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors in the LGBT population: a review of the literature. Journal of eating disorders, 8, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-020-00327-y 

  

Arikawa, A. Y., Ross, J., Wright, L., Elmore, M., Gonzalez, A. M., & Fulgoni, V. L. (2021). Results of an Online Survey about Food Insecurity and Eating Disorder Behaviors Administered to a Volunteer Sample of Self-Described LGBTQ+ Young Adults Aged 18 to 35 Years. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121(7), 1231–1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2020.09.032 

  

Diemer, E. W., Grant, J. D., Munn-Chernoff, M. A., Patterson, D. A., & Duncan, A. E. (2015). Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Eating-Related Pathology in a National Sample of College Students. The Journal of adolescent health: official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 57(2), 144–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.03.003 

 

 2SLGBTQIA+,  Food & Nutrition,  Mental Health & Mental Illness