Gomes SM, Jacob MC, Rocha C, Medeiros MF, Lyra CO, Noro LR. Expanding the limits of sex: a systematic review concerning food and nutrition in transgender populations.
Public Health Nutr 2021;
24:6436-6449. [PMID:
33866993 PMCID:
PMC11148592 DOI:
10.1017/s1368980021001671]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To examine the literature and identify main themes, methods and results of studies concerning food and nutrition addressed in research on transgender populations.
DESIGN
A systematic review conducted through July 2020 in the MedLine/PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases.
RESULTS
Of the 778 studies identified in the databases, we selected thirty-seven. The studies were recent, most of them published after 2015, being produced in Global North countries. The most often used study design was cross-sectional; the least frequently used study design was ethnographic. Body image and weight control were predominant themes (n 25), followed by food and nutrition security (n 5), nutritional status (n 5), nutritional health assistance (n 1) and emic visions of healthy eating (n 1).
CONCLUSIONS
The transgender community presents body, food and nutritional relationships traversed by its unique gender experience, which challenges dietary and nutritional recommendations based on the traditional division by sex (male and female). We need to complete the lacking research and understand contexts in the Global South, strategically investing in exploratory-ethnographic research, to develop categories of analysis and recommendations that consider the transgender experience.
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