Being a good ally to your trans or queer loved one means being supportive, respectful, and willing to learn all year round—not just during Pride Month. And if your loved one is also in recovery from an eating disorder, you will want to ensure that you can not only give them the care and compassion they need but also understand how their identity may influence their eating disorder development and recovery.

‍Gender presentation, identity, and body image are inherently linked. This may partially explain why eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors are so prevalent among transgender and non-binary individuals.

Fatphobia and weight stigma are unfortunately rampant in among gay men, in which many men experience fat-shaming, discrimination, harmful comments, and exclusion, causing a toxic environment that often ostracizes its own community members.

Historically, eating disorders have been thought to affect thin, white cisgender girls or women, though the reality is, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), and bulimia nervosa (BN) affect people of all genders, sexualities, sizes, weights, ethnicities, and races; and transgender youth are no exception.