The role of sexual orientation in the relationships among food insecurity, food literacy, and disordered eating

Abstract

LGBTQ young adults are at increased risk for food insecurity and disordered eating behaviors. Food literacy is a related construct that may also impact disordered eating; however, research on these relationships is limited. It is also not well understood if food security and food literacy relate to disordered eating behaviors differently for LGBTQ and heterosexual individuals. The current study examined these constructs in a sample of college students (n = 572; 22 % LGBTQ), as well as examined sexual orientation as a moderator in the relationship between food insecurity/food literacy and disordered eating outcomes. Results showed that LGBTQ individuals reported greater dieting/restricting, bulimia symptoms, oral control, and binge eating symptoms than heterosexual peers. LGBTQ students were also more likely to be food insecure and had significantly lower food literacy than heterosexual students. Sexual orientation significantly moderated the relationships between food insecurity and overall disordered eating, and between food insecurity and dieting/restricting behaviors. These relationships showed that very low food security was strongly related to disordered eating symptoms for LGBTQ individuals. Sexual orientation did not moderate the relationship between food literacy and disordered eating outcomes. These findings contribute to the overall literature on food insecurity and disordered eating for the LGBTQ community through replicating past findings, and also provide new information about relationships between food literacy, food insecurity, disordered eating, and the role of sexual orientation.