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Nutrition research and practice with transgender and gender non-conforming populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2023

Whitney Linsenmeyer Open the ORCID record for Whitney Linsenmeyer [Opens in a new window]
Whitney Linsenmeyer*
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Saint Louis University, 3437 Caroline Street, Room 3076, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
*
Corresponding author: Whitney Linsenmeyer, email Whitney.linsenmeyer@health.slu.edu
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Abstract

The purpose of the present article is to describe the current state of sex and gender data collection in nutrition science research, discuss the effects of flawed data collection practices, highlight considerations for transgender and gender non-conforming populations and propose a sex- and gender-informed approach to human subjects research. Sex and gender are separate constructs that are often conflated in nutrition research and practice. Current nutrition surveillance programmes in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland do not accurately capture sex and gender data, which undermines the accuracy of the analyses and excludes gender minorities. Transgender and gender non-conforming populations have distinct clinical and psychosocial nutrition considerations that require further research to inform nutrition policy and practice, such as anthropometric and biochemical changes with hormone therapy, eating disorders, food insecurity and nutrition as a source of empowerment or expression of gender identity. Researchers can apply a sex- and gender-informed approach to human subjects research by treating sex and gender as separate, relevant demographic data, appreciating gender as a fluid construct, and approaching data collection on gender minorities with sensitivity to privacy and confidentiality.

Keywords

SexGender identityTransgender persons
Type
Conference on ‘Understanding the role of sex and gender in nutrition research’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 83 , Issue 2 , May 2024 , pp. 76 - 81
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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