Posted by Shane Smith, Editor, Stonewall Gazette

Eating disorder behaviors such as purging, fasting and using pills to lose or control weight seems to be declining for most youth, yet are on the rise for those who are gay, lesbian and bisexual. The findings are from a new study by researchers at the University of B.C., who analyzed data from U.S. youth aged 12 to 18 from 1999 to 2013. The study, which was published online in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, found that gay boys were five times more likely to use diet pills compared to their heterosexual counterparts. There is research suggesting that interventions and other programs to promote healthy eating are not reaching lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in the same way they are reaching straight youth. MORE