About a decade ago, public health researchers hardly had any information on the proportion of transgender people living with eating disorders, but recent studies have been sparking conversations on health inequities faced by trans folks in accessing recovery.

The chances of reporting an eating disorder diagnosis were four times higher in transgender college students as compared to cisgender students, a 2015 study found. Another study with 933 transgender youth found that 75 percent of the respondants had experienced disordered eating symptoms in the past year.

Lack of access to healthcare with barriers such as insurance discrimination and verbal harrassment in healthcare settings can increase eating disorder risks, according to National Eating Disorders Association.

One study found that a third of trans respondants experienced at least one negative interaction with their healthcare provider.

Although all trans people might not want medical intervention, those who did and who had access to gender-affirming healthcare, experienced improved body satisfaction and lower eating disorder symptoms, NEDA reports.

Even today, gathering information about treatment options is confusing, as healthcare providers who are skilled in treating eating disorders may not be experienced in supporting trans folks.

Here’s an organization from NEDA’s website on resources created by and for trans folks living with eating disorders: https://fedupcollective.org