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Body checking behaviors and eating disorder pathology among nonbinary individuals with androgynous appearance ideals

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Abstract

Background

Internalized sociocultural standards of attractiveness are a risk factor repeatedly linked to eating disorders; however, many nonbinary individuals do not conform to these standards.

Purpose

This study investigated the body checking behaviors and eating disorder pathology among nonbinary individuals with androgynous appearance ideals.

Methods

Participants (n = 194) completed an online survey assessing body checking behaviors, body appreciation, gender congruence, and eating disorder pathology

Results

Body checking predicted eating disorder pathology, and body image significantly improved the model. Gender congruence did not additional variance in predicting eating pathology

Conclusion

Though gender congruence was not a significant predictor of eating pathology, content analysis revealed unique body behaviors specific to nonbinary individuals’ gender identity and gender expression. Clinical implications include expanding perceptions of eating disorder presentation when working with nonbinary individuals with androgynous appearance ideals.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

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Data availability

Email corresponding author Dr. Paz Galupo, pgalupo@towson.edu.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD, USA

    Claire E. Cusack & M. Paz Galupo

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  1. Claire E. Cusack
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Correspondence to M. Paz Galupo.

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The questionnaire and methodology for this study was approved by the Institutional Review Board Committee of Towson University (Ethics approval number: 1908054269).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Cusack, C.E., Galupo, M.P. Body checking behaviors and eating disorder pathology among nonbinary individuals with androgynous appearance ideals. Eat Weight Disord 26, 1915–1925 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01040-0

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