title: Examining weight and eating behavior by sexual orientation in a sample of male veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Eating disorders are understudied in men and in sexual minority populations; however, extant evidence suggests that gay men have higher rates of disordered eating than heterosexual men. The present study examined the associations between sexual orientation, body mass index (BMI), disordered eating behaviors, and food addiction in a sample of male veterans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 642 male veterans from the Knowledge Networks-GfK Research Panel. They were randomly selected from a larger study based on previously reported trauma exposure; 96% identified as heterosexual. Measures included the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, the Yale Food Addiction Scale, and self-reported height and weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heterosexual and sexual minority men did not differ significantly in terms of BMI. However, gay and bisexual men (n=24) endorsed significantly greater eating disorder symptoms and food addiction compared to heterosexual men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings that sexual minority male veterans may be more likely to experience eating disorder and food addiction symptoms compared to heterosexual male veterans highlight the importance of prevention, assessment, and treatment efforts targeted to this population.
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Sarah.Bankoff@va.gov.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bankoff
authors.affiliation: Red Sox Foundation and MGH Home Base Program, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: lrichards3@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Lauren K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Brooke.Bartlett@va.gov.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Behavioral Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Erika.Wolf@va.gov.
authors.forename: Erika J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Karen.Mitchell5@va.gov.
authors.forename: Karen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*