Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, and Weight-Related Outcomes in Sexual and Gender-Minority Populations: An Umbrella Review

Background: Evidence on eating disorders (EDs), disordered eating, and weight-related outcomes in sexual-and-gender-minority (SGM) populations varies across subgroups and outcomes. This umbrella review critically synthesized systematic-review evidence. Methods: Searches initially performed in April 2024 were updated and expanded on 15 October 2026 across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and Embase. Fourteen systematic reviews, including five meta-analyses, met the eligibility criteria. We conducted a structured narrative synthesis, appraised review methodology using the JBI checklist, and assessed primary-publication overlap using corrected covered area (CCA). Results: Among sexual-minority males, especially adolescents and young adults, reviews repeatedly reported elevated disordered-eating behaviors relative to heterosexual counterparts, although direct comparisons between sexual-minority subgroups were limited. Findings for sexual-minority females varied by behavior, age, and sexual-orientation category, whereas higher BMI or overweight/obesity was reported more consistently. In transgender and gender-diverse populations, screening-based estimates suggested substantial probable ED symptom burden but were highly heterogeneous and did not represent clinically confirmed diagnoses. Male sexual-minority weight-related findings did not parallel disordered-eating patterns across the different evidence bases. Overall CCA was 7.52% for ED-related outcomes and 5.30% for weight/BMI, with greater overlap in several subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Disordered-eating and weight-related disparities should be interpreted separately and by subgroup. Observational designs, heterogeneous measures, and overlapping primary publications limit causal, comparative, and clinical inferences.

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Publication Details

Journal
Psychiatry International
Published
2026-11-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint7060250
Primary Topic
Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, and Weight-Related Outcomes in Sexual and Gender-Minority Populations: An Umbrella Review

Paolo Cotrufo, Stefania Cella, Marzieh Abdoli, Fabio Carraturo et al.
Psychiatry International
Eating Disorders and Behaviors
article

Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, and Weight-Related Outcomes in Sexual and Gender-Minority Populations: An Umbrella Review

Paolo Cotrufo, Stefania Cella, Marzieh Abdoli, Fabio Carraturo, Roberto Santonicola
article en

Abstract

Background: Evidence on eating disorders (EDs), disordered eating, and weight-related outcomes in sexual-and-gender-minority (SGM) populations varies across subgroups and outcomes. This umbrella review critically synthesized systematic-review evidence. Methods: Searches initially performed in April 2024 were updated and expanded on 15 October 2026 across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and Embase. Fourteen systematic reviews, including five meta-analyses, met the eligibility criteria. We conducted a structured narrative synthesis, appraised review methodology using the JBI checklist, and assessed primary-publication overlap using corrected covered area (CCA). Results: Among sexual-minority males, especially adolescents and young adults, reviews repeatedly reported elevated disordered-eating behaviors relative to heterosexual counterparts, although direct comparisons between sexual-minority subgroups were limited. Findings for sexual-minority females varied by behavior, age, and sexual-orientation category, whereas higher BMI or overweight/obesity was reported more consistently. In transgender and gender-diverse populations, screening-based estimates suggested substantial probable ED symptom burden but were highly heterogeneous and did not represent clinically confirmed diagnoses. Male sexual-minority weight-related findings did not parallel disordered-eating patterns across the different evidence bases. Overall CCA was 7.52% for ED-related outcomes and 5.30% for weight/BMI, with greater overlap in several subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Disordered-eating and weight-related disparities should be interpreted separately and by subgroup. Observational designs, heterogeneous measures, and overlapping primary publications limit causal, comparative, and clinical inferences.

Psychiatry InternationalVol. 7(6)
University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT)
Eating Disorders and Behaviors
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