Losing, gaining, or staying the same: how do different weight change attempts relate to muscle dysmorphia and eating disorder symptoms across genders?

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults are at heightened risk for eating disorder (ED) and muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms; yet, these symptoms and their relationships to harmful behaviors may also vary by gender. Thus, this study examined: 1) the prevalence of attempts to lose, gain, or maintain the same weight across gender identities, 2) purposes of weight change attempts, and 3) relationships between weight change attempts and ED and MD symptoms across cisgender men, women, and transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth. 940 adolescents and young adults (57.4% cisgender women, 33.8% cisgender men, 8.8% TGE) completed questionnaires about weight change attempts, ED and MD symptoms. Women and TGE individuals attempted to lose weight more often than men, while men attempted to gain weight more often. All genders endorsed weight loss and gain attempts for different purposes. Weight loss attempts related to ED symptoms and appearance intolerance, whereas weight gain attempts related to MD symptoms across genders. In women, all weight change attempts related to greater functional impairment due to exercise. Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions to address desires to change one's body and underscore the harmful effects of weight change attempts across genders.