When You Feel More at Home, You Want to Take Better Care of That Home: Key Informant Perspectives on Nutrition Priorities, Behaviors, and Health Promotion for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth—An Interpretive Descriptive Qualitative Research Study

IF 4 2区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-04-09 DOI:10.1016/j.jand.2026.156354

Heather E. Schier PhD , Krithika Chetty , Shivakriti Induri , Carolyn Gunther PhD, RDN, LD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth and young adults (YYA) face unique nutrition challenges related to gender affirming hormone therapy, mental health concerns, and gender-based stigma. Limited research exists on their nutrition-related health priorities, behaviors, and pathways for health promotion.

Objective

Explore the perceived nutrition-related health priorities and behaviors of TGD YYA and identify health promotion strategies from the key informant perspective.

Design

A qualitative study using interpretive description methodology through in-depth, semistructured interviews.

Participants and setting

Ten key informants, including health care providers, youth-serving professionals, and caregivers from 2 midwestern US cities, were purposively selected for their expertise with TGD YYA. Interviews were conducted between October 2022 and March 2023.

Main outcome measures

Identification of nutrition-related priorities, behaviors, and health promotion strategies for TGD YYA as perceived by key informants.

Data analysis

Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in NVivo 12.

Results

Four themes were identified: Social and Psychological Barriers to Food and Nutrition Security for TGD YYA; Social and Psychological Impacts on Nutrition Attitudes and Behaviors; Gender-Affirming Nutrition Attitudes and Behaviors; and “No, this is wrong, and like, we need to fix it”: Health Promotion Strategies for TGD YYA.

Conclusions

TGD YYA face persistent food insecurity and navigate eating behaviors shaped by gender norms, health care bias, and the pursuit of gender-congruent appearance. Although some eating behaviors (eg, restrictive eating) reflect disordered eating, others, like macro loading and supplement use, are adaptive strategies to support gender affirmation and optimize gender-affirming hormone therapy outcomes. These findings underscore the need for gender-affirming, weight-inclusive nutrition care that addresses both structural barriers and the diverse motivations behind TGD YYA’s eating behaviors.

查看原文本刊更多论文

“当你感觉更像在家里的时候，你就会想要更好地照顾这个家”：关于跨性别和性别多样化青年营养优先事项、行为和健康促进的关键信息提供者观点-一项解释性描述性定性研究。

背景：跨性别和性别多样化（TGD）青年和青壮年（YYA）面临着与性别肯定激素治疗、心理健康问题和基于性别的污名相关的独特营养挑战。关于他们的营养相关的健康优先事项、行为和健康促进途径的研究有限。目的：从关键信息提供者的角度，探讨TGD YYA的营养相关健康优先事项和行为，并确定健康促进策略。设计：通过深入的半结构化访谈，采用解释性描述方法进行定性研究。参与者/环境：来自美国中西部两个城市的十个关键信息提供者，包括医疗保健提供者，青年服务专业人员和护理人员，被有意选择为TGD YYA的专业知识。采访在2022年10月至2023年3月期间进行。主要结果测量：确定关键信息提供者认为的TGD YYA的营养相关优先事项、行为和健康促进策略。数据分析：使用NVivo 12中的反身主题分析对数据进行分析。结果：确定了四个主题：1)三峡库区青年粮食和营养安全的社会和心理障碍；2)社会心理因素对营养态度和行为的影响；3)性别肯定的营养态度和行为；4)“不，这是错误的，我们需要解决它”：TGD YYA健康促进战略。结论：TGD YYA面临持续的食物不安全，并在性别规范、医疗偏见和追求性别一致外表的影响下引导饮食行为。虽然一些饮食行为（如限制性饮食）反映了饮食失调，但其他行为，如宏观负荷和补充剂使用，是支持性别肯定和优化GAHT结果的适应性策略。这些发现强调了性别肯定、体重包容的营养护理的必要性，以解决结构性障碍和TGD YYA饮食行为背后的多样化动机。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics NUTRITION & DIETETICS-

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

10.40%

发文量

649

审稿时长

68 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the premier source for the practice and science of food, nutrition, and dietetics. The monthly, peer-reviewed journal presents original articles prepared by scholars and practitioners and is the most widely read professional publication in the field. The Journal focuses on advancing professional knowledge across the range of research and practice issues such as: nutritional science, medical nutrition therapy, public health nutrition, food science and biotechnology, foodservice systems, leadership and management, and dietetics education.