Addressing Nutrition Disparities in the LGBTQ+ Community

By: Kylie Baker

*This post discusses eating disorders and body image issues.*

When you think about basic human rights, what comes to mind? You might say health care, clean air and water, clothing, housing, and so on. I might be biased as a future registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), but food is the first thing that crosses my mind. Everyone deserves access to nutritious, delicious food as well as a healthy relationship with food and body.

Unfortunately, we live in a world of injustices in which marginalized groups are denied basic human rights. In the LGBTQ+ community, several main issues threaten people’s access to food and ability to enjoy food.

Poverty and Food Insecurity

LGBTQ+ people are more likely than their heterosexual peers to live in poverty. In many cases, this is due to growing up with limited resources or systemic oppression. LGBTQ+ people are also more likely to report food insecurity, which Feeding America defines as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.” In 2014, 27% of LGBT adults faced food insecurity compared to 17% of non-LGBT adults. One of the root issues here is stigma. Not only are LGBTQ+ people more likely to live in poverty because of stigma they face in the job market, but stigmatized views towards assistance programs may also hold folks back from seeking the help they need. Normalizing programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is essential to increase participation in these programs. (As a side note, WIC is more inclusive than its name may sound. It is an equal opportunity provider and anyone with children under the age of five that meets income eligibility requirements can receive benefits.)

These programs exist to help people make ends meet and in the case of SNAP and WIC, reduce food insecurity. Advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and for assistance programs may eventually break down enough barriers to reduce food access disparities.

Health Conditions, Eating Disorders, and Body Image

Emerging research shows that some subsections of the LGBTQ+ community have higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including bisexual men and cohabitating female partners. People with CVD often need to make dietary changes which may be cost prohibitive and lead to diminished enjoyment of food. Proposed causes for increased risk include exposure to environmental contaminants such as secondhand smoke as well as stress. Further research is needed to determine steps forward but reducing income and food access disparities plays a role in improving health outcomes.

Disproportionate rates of eating disorders are faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Gay males are estimated to represent 5% of the total male population but among males who have eating disorders, 42% identify as gay. Transgender people in particular face high risk of body dysphoria which may lead to disordered eating behaviors.

Fighting against diet culture is one way to address this disparity. Oftentimes, eating disorders arise out of body dissatisfaction. As a culture, we are bombarded with body ideals through TV and movies, magazines, social media, and you guessed it, diet and “wellness” culture. These images do not align with bodies seen in the real world, but many people harbor implicit bias against people in larger bodies and may make assumptions about someone’s character or value based on their body or food choices. In a 2020 study of 3800 people, 57% demonstrated weight stigma. The desire for a stereotypically “attractive” body may be amplified for LGBTQ+ folks. For people that have faced stigma or victimization, food may also feel like one area of life that they can control. This may result in disordered eating behaviors.

The first step to changing disparities in eating disorders is to take the time to examine your beliefs about bodies and eating. Do you have preconceived notions about types of bodies or what people eat? Try to separate moral value from food and body. It takes time to re-evaluate these deeply ingrained attitudes, but it helps people foster a better relationship with their own body. In the grander scheme of things, the more people that shift their mindset about food and body, the bigger the reduction in mentalities that lead to disordered eating and negative body image.

Kylie Baker is a dietetic intern and graduate student studying Dietetic Systems Leadership at Montana State University. She is passionate about ensuring access to nutritious food for all. In her spare time, you can probably find her listening to podcasts by Christy Harrison or Jonathan Van Ness.