On June 13th, 2024, Monte Nido Fellow, Advocate, Educator, and Author, Schuyler Bailar, and Chief Clinical Officer at Monte Nido, Melissa Spann, PhD, MBA, CEDS-C, joined forces to present an enlightening CE webinar titled "Transforming Treatment: Gender-Informed Care and Eating Disorders." The event focused on the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals when seeking care for eating disorders and the importance of adopting a gender-informed approach to treatment.

Watch a quick recap video: 

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Key Statistics on Eating Disorders

According to a NEDA x Trevor Project survey of over 1,000 trans youth, 54% reported an eating disorder diagnosis, with an additional 21% suspecting they had an eating disorder. The survey also revealed that 71% of transgender individuals who identified as straight reported having an eating disorder. Monte Nido's own outcomes data shows that 35% of adults and 37.7% of adolescents admitted to eating disorder residential treatment centers over the past five years identified as LGBTQ+.

Barriers to Eating Disorder Care for Transgender Individuals

The presenters highlighted several barriers transgender individuals face when seeking treatment for eating disorders, including:

• Fear of and/or experiences of adverse consequences from healthcare providers or within healthcare communities
• Internalized negative messages/beliefs about oneself
• Discrimination while in care or perceptions of providers
• Inability to access care due to a lack of resources
• Homelessness or unsafe home environments
• Discriminatory legal practices in some states that prohibit affirming care
• Unwillingness or unavailability of loved ones for support

Effective Gender-Informed Treatment Approaches

Schuyler Bailar and Dr. Spann emphasized the importance of adopting a gender-informed approach to treating eating disorders within the LGBTQ+ community. Essential components of effective treatment include:

• Interruption of ED behaviors and stabilization
• Decreasing isolation and connecting patients to LGBTQ+ specific resources
• Identifying core values to support recovery versus values that reinforce eating disorder behaviors
• Exploring intersectional identities
• Supporting safe and effective practices for changing body
• Meeting needs across the lifespan and various developmental stages
• Assessing needs using the Gender Minority Stress and Resilience (GMSR) Model (Testa, 2017)
• Trans-Affirming cognitive behavioral therapy (TA-CBT) (Austin & Craig, 2015)

Clinical Tools and Best Practices

The presenters also shared valuable clinical tools and best practices for creating inclusive and safe environments for LGBTQ+ patients seeking treatment. Some recommendations include:

• Using inclusive language, such as asking for pronouns and using open-ended questions
• Respecting the terminology a transgender person uses to describe their identity
• Avoiding gendered language when addressing groups
• Asking open-ended questions to create a more inclusive environment

Resources

The presenters provided a list of valuable resources that can be accessed via the links below:

• https://www.pinkmantaray.com/resources/ed
• https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/eating-disorders-among-lgbtq-youth-feb-2022/

Conclusion

The "Transforming Treatment: Gender-Informed Care and Eating Disorders" webinar provided critical insights into the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals with eating disorders and emphasized the importance of adopting a gender-informed approach to treatment. By understanding and addressing these specific needs, healthcare providers can work towards creating inclusive and effective treatment environments that promote lasting recovery for all individuals seeking care.

Visit the Continuing Education section of our website to review and register for our future CE offerings. We look forward to seeing you there!