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Transgender Youth Face Unique Risk For Eating Disorders | A new study at Washington State University examined the body satisfaction of transgender youth and young adults and found that 17 percent of participants reported having experienced an eating disorder. As research Cindy Ola explains, “Transgender individuals may attempt to make clear their internal and external self by forming an identity that matches their gender identity. Therefore, these individuals find themselves dealing with body dissatisfaction, experience negative relationships with their reflection in the mirror, and may alter their appearance in numerous ways to achieve a suitable gender identity.” Forty of the 65 respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their bodies, and 21 of them attributed that feeling to gender-related issues. Those who felt better about their bodies credited hormone therapy and sexual reassignment surgery to their improved self-image and well-being.