Where is the Evidence of Evidence-Based Treatment for LGBTQIA+ Individuals Experiencing Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders affect individuals across all demographic strata and indicators of social location, including sex, age, weight, ability, socioeconomic position, race, and ethnicity. Sexual and gender minority populations are diverse subgroups who have been identified as exhibiting elevated prevalence of eating disorders and disordered weight and shape concerns. The goals of this chapter are threefold: (1) to review the state of the research on eating disorders and eating disorders treatment and prevention among sexual and gender minorities, including relevant theory and epidemiology on health inequities; (2) to discuss the state of evidence-based treatment and, by necessity, discuss critical gaps in research and clinical practice that have impeded the development of tailored and targeted eating disorder treatment and prevention for sexual and gender minority populations; and (3) to describe recommendations for future research and clinical practice. Given the paucity of formal evidence evaluating the efficacy of evidence-based treatment for sexual and gender minority populations, we issue 12 concrete recommendations derived from epidemiologic research and perspectives from providers and individuals with lived experience to help prioritize research efforts and guide the future development and implementation of evidence-based treatment of eating disorders for sexual and gender minority individuals.