JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Previous research has identified health disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual women, including increased rates of obesity and binge eating in sexual minority women. Established predictors of binge eating behavior include negative emotions and sociocultural processes, however, these studies are generally in general samples of young women, where sexual identity is not known or reported. There is a dearth of research evaluating how sexual minority-specific factors (e.g., minority stress, connectedness to the LGBTQ+ community) may affect binge eating in sexual minority women. In addition, no studies have examined these processes in racially diverse samples or considered how having intersecting minority identities (e.g., Black, sexual minority woman) may affect eating behaviors.

Objective:

The Health and Experiences in Real Life (HER Life) Project aims to clarify real-world predictors of binge eating in young heterosexual and sexual minority women using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). The role of affective, social, and health behavior factors in binge eating will be examined for all women (Aim 1) and sexual minority-specific predictors will also be considered for sexual minority women participants (Aim 2). Person-level moderators of race, body- and eating-related factors, and sexual minority specific factors will also be examined to better understand how real-world binge eating predictors may vary for various demographic groups (Aim 3).

Methods:

Researchers aim to recruit 150 heterosexual and 150 sexual minority women from across the U.S., including at least 50 Black women for each group using online recruitment methods. Eligibility criteria include identifying as a woman between 18-30 years and having at least two binge eating episodes in the last two weeks. Participants must endorse being only or mostly attracted to men (considered heterosexual) or only or mostly attracted to women/having current or most recent female partner (considered sexual minority). Eligible participants complete an initial online baseline survey and then complete 14 days of EMA, involving the completion of a morning, before bed, and 5 prompted surveys per day, as well as a user-initiated survey after binge eating episodes. Data will be analyzed using a series of multilevel models.

Results:

Data collection started in February 2021. We have currently enrolled 275 women (129 sexual minority, 146 heterosexual). Data collection is expected to conclude in Fall 2022.

Conclusions:

The HER Life project aims to elucidate potential differences between sexual minority and heterosexual women in within-person factors predicting binge eating and to inform eating disorder interventions for sexual minority women. The challenges of recruiting sexual minority women, including determination of eligibility criteria and considerations for remote data collection, are discussed.