Body dissatisfaction differences and similarities among people with eating disorders, people with gender dysphoria and university students

Abstract

To subjects with gender dysphoria, body image is an important aspect of their condition. These individuals at times report high body dissatisfaction, similar to individuals with an eating disorder. In total, 61 subjects with gender dysphoria, 30 subjects with an eating disorder, and 40 healthy subjects were evaluated. We parted from the hypothesis that gender dysphoria subjects present more body dissatisfaction than the control group, but less than the eating disorder group. Results regarding body dissatisfaction (related to body beauty ideals) showed significant differences between groups.  Subjects with gender dysphoria had higher scores in the body dissatisfaction subscale than the general population, but lower scores than people with eating disorders.