Latent profiles of eating disorder symptoms among transgender, gender diverse, and cisgender people with lived experience of eating disorders: associations with neurodivergent traits and gender dysphoria

This study highlights the diverse profiles of eating disorder symptoms in transgender and gender diverse individuals, emphasizing the importance of considering neurodivergent traits in understanding these conditions.

Summary and findings

This study examined eating disorder (ED) symptom profiles among 487 individuals with ED experience, including 303 transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals aged 18–62 years. A four-profile solution was identified, with the largest profile being binge eating with ED cognitions at 29.4%. Associations were found between gender dysphoria, neurodivergent traits, and specific ED symptom profiles.

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <p> Eating disorder (ED) research has historically overlooked trans and gender diverse (TGD) people, despite evidence of elevated ED symptoms in this group. TGD people often report co-occurring autistic and ADHD traits that may intersect with their ED. We examined whether distinct profiles of ED symptomatology differ by gender identity, and the extent to which gender dysphoria and neurodivergent traits are associated with profile assignment. We applied latent profile analysis to ED symptom data from 487 individuals with experience of an ED (303 TGD people; 18–62 years). A four-profile solution provided the best fit: (1) Avoidant eating without ED cognitions, 18.7%; (2) Low ED cognitions and behaviours, 23.8%; (3) Avoidant eating with ED cognitions, 28.1%; and (4) Binge eating with ED cognitions, 29.4%. The Avoidant eating without ED cognitions profile was most relevant to gender dysphoria (OR = 1.50, <italic>p</italic> = .010) and autistic (OR = 1.57, <italic>p</italic> = .006) and ADHD traits (OR = 1.58, <italic>p</italic> = .006). Autistic traits increased the odds of membership in profiles characterised by ED cognitions. These findings demonstrate heterogeneity in ED presentations and highlight the value of a transdiagnostic, data-driven approach. They highlight the need to consider dual diagnoses of ARFID and anorexia nervosa, particularly among TGD and neurodivergent groups. </p>

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