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Observational Study
. 2024 Sep 17;16(18):3139.
doi: 10.3390/nu16183139.

Dietary Habits, Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in Italy: A Voluntary Sampling Observational Study

Carmela Santangelo  1 , Matteo Marconi  1 , Angela Ruocco  1 , Jiska Ristori  2 , Stefania Bonadonna  3 , Rosario Pivonello  4 , Maria Cristina Meriggiola  5 , Francesco Lombardo  6 , Giovanna Motta  7 , Chiara Michela Crespi  7 , Maddalena Mosconi  8 , Alessandro Oppo  9 , Silvia Federici  3 , Luca Bruno  4 , Nunzia Verde  4 , Alessandra Lami  5 , Emanuela Bologna  10 , Rosaria Varì  1 , Maria Teresa Pagano  11 , Luciana Giordani  1 , Paola Matarrese  1 , Flavia Chiarotti  12 , Alessandra Daphne Fisher  2 , Marina Pierdominici  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Dietary Habits, Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in Italy: A Voluntary Sampling Observational Study

Carmela Santangelo et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals continue to experience harassment and discrimination across various aspects of life, significantly impacting their physical and mental health. The scarcity of data on their general health, particularly regarding dietary habits, remains a challenge in developing effective healthcare strategies for this population. To address this gap, we analyzed selected dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI) among Italian TGD adults compared to the Italian general population (IGP). An online anonymous survey was conducted via the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing technique from June 2020 to June 2021. Participants were enrolled through clinical centers and TGD organizations. Data from 959 TGD adults were analyzed using chi-squared tests and logistic regression models. Key findings indicated that approximately 70% of TGD individuals consumed fewer servings of fruit and vegetables (FV) than recommended (five or more servings per day). Although red meat consumption was lower overall, a greater percentage of TGD individuals reported consuming more than three servings per week. Additionally, 58% of TGD participants indicated that they did not engage in any PA, compared to 36% of the IGP. Notably, significant differences in BMI were identified, with higher rates of overweight and obesity among TGD individuals assigned female at birth. These results underscore the urgent need for tailored nutritional guidelines and inclusive public health strategies to meet the specific health needs of the Italian TGD population. Expanding access to targeted interventions could contribute to improving overall well-being in this marginalized group.

Keywords: body mass index; diet, food, and nutrition; exercise; fish consumption; fruit and vegetables intake; gender diverse; milk and yogurt consumption; red meat consumption; transgender persons.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of fruit and vegetables consumption between TGD individuals and IGP. (a) Consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. (b) Consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (c) Consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (d) Consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. The TGD population was standardized based on the age distribution of the IGP of the same sex assigned at birth (AMAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AFAB IGP for AFAB TGD) or of the same gender identity (AFAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AMAB IGP for AFAB TGD). AFAB, assigned female at birth; AMAB, assigned male at birth; IGP, Italian general population; serv/d, servings per day; std, standardized; TGD, transgender and gender diverse people.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of red meat consumption between TGD individuals and IGP. (a) Red meat consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. (b) Red meat consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (c) Red meat consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (d) Red meat consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. The TGD population was standardized based on the age distribution of the IGP of the same sex assigned at birth (AMAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AFAB IGP for AFAB TGD) or of the same gender identity (AFAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AMAB IGP for AFAB TGD). AFAB, assigned female at birth; AMAB, assigned male at birth; IGP, Italian general population; serv/w, servings per week; std, standardized; TGD, transgender and gender diverse people.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of fish consumption between TGD individuals and IGP. (a) Fish consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. (b) Fish consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (c) Fish consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (d) Fish consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. The TGD population was standardized based on the age distribution of the IGP of the same sex assigned at birth (AMAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AFAB IGP for AFAB TGD) or of the same gender identity (AFAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AMAB IGP for AFAB TGD). AFAB, assigned female at birth; AMAB, assigned male at birth; IGP, Italian general population; serv/w, servings per week; std, standardized; TGD, transgender and gender diverse people.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of milk and yogurt consumption between TGD individuals and IGP. (a) Milk and/or yogurt consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. (b) Milk and yogurt consumption patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (c) Milk and yogurt consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (d) Milk and yogurt consumption patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. The TGD population was standardized based on the age distribution of the IGP of the same sex assigned at birth (AMAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AFAB IGP for AFAB TGD) or of the same gender identity (AFAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AMAB IGP for AFAB TGD). AFAB, assigned female at birth; AMAB, assigned male at birth; IGP, Italian general population; serv/d, servings per day; std, standardized; TGD, transgender and gender diverse people.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of physical activity levels between TGD individuals and IGP. (a) Physical activity patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. (b) Physical activity patterns of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (c) Physical activity patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (d) Physical activity patterns of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. The TGD population was standardized based on the age distribution of the IGP of the same sex assigned at birth (AMAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AFAB IGP for AFAB TGD) or of the same gender identity (AFAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AMAB IGP for AFAB TGD). AFAB, assigned female at birth; AMAB, assigned male at birth; IGP, Italian general population; std, standardized; TGD, transgender and gender diverse people.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of BMI distribution between TGD individuals and IGP. (a) BMI distribution of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. (b) BMI distribution of AMAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (c) BMI distribution of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AFAB IGP individuals. (d) BMI distribution of AFAB TGD individuals compared to AMAB IGP individuals. The TGD population was standardized based on the age distribution of the IGP of the same sex assigned at birth (AMAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AFAB IGP for AFAB TGD) or of the same gender identity (AFAB IGP for AMAB TGD, AMAB IGP for AFAB TGD). AFAB, assigned female at birth; AMAB, assigned male at birth; IGP, Italian general population; std, standardized; TGD, transgender and gender diverse people.
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