Sávio Marcelino Gomes1,2, Michelle Cm Jacob2, Cecília Rocha3, Maria Fa Medeiros2, Clélia O Lyra1, Luiz Ra Noro1. 1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59056-000 Natal, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 2. Laboratório Horta Comunitária Nutrir, Nutrition Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-970 Natal, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 3. Centre for Studies in Food Security, School of Nutrition, Ryerson University, Toronto, ONM5B 2K3, Canada.
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.
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.
Entities:
Keywords:
Gender identity; Gender nonconforming; Nutritional care; Sexual and gender minority