Body image, sexual orientation and gender identity

While people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) experience body image concerns in ways that are generally similar to those who identify as heterosexual, their experience and relationship with their bodies are likely to differ in specific ways.   

How does body image vary across the LGBT+ community?

Heterosexual men have been found to report higher levels of body appreciation than gay and bisexual men ^(123,124).

Some research suggests that sexual minority men may be more likely to internalise an appearance ideal that is centred around looking athletic ⁽¹²⁴⁾ and that there may be a greater emphasis on physical appearance in the gay community, which can negatively affect body image ⁽¹²⁵⁾ through pressure to match this ideal.

One review of the research ⁽¹²⁶⁾ found that gay men are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to experience a desire to be thin, which can sometimes manifest in higher levels of eating disorder symptoms. As in the wider research, studies focused on gay, and bisexual men have found a connection between higher levels of body dissatisfaction, an increased likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms and increased sexual anxiety and poorer sexual self-efficacy ⁽¹²³⁾. 

Some research suggests that lesbian women have a similar level of concern around their body image as heterosexual women ^(127,128), though research is mixed on this point. One study suggested a small difference, finding that lesbian women may be slightly more satisfied with their bodies than heterosexual women ⁽¹²⁹⁾. However, other studies find a similar level of concern between heterosexual and lesbian women regarding the perceptions of their bodies and their perceptions of what an ‘ideal’ body looks like ⁽¹²⁸⁾. A similar pattern was found for women who identify as bisexual ⁽¹³⁰⁾.  

In our survey, a higher proportion of individuals who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual reported feelings of anxiety and depression because of their body image. Among adults who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or other, 53% felt anxious, and 56% felt depressed because of their body image compared to one-third (33%) of the adults who identified as heterosexual. 

Similarly, in our survey, one-third (33%) of adults who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or other reported experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings because of concerns about their body image, compared to 11% of the adults who identified as heterosexual.  

Transgender people

Transgender people may experience distress due to the incongruity between their biological sex and gender identity. This can affect their body image, and research suggests that levels of body dissatisfaction in transgender people tend to be higher before undergoing gender confirmation treatments ⁽¹³¹⁾.

Feelings around one’s body can differ depending on the stage at which a person is on their transition journey (132). It should be noted that transitioning does not just refer to medical intervention, which is something that not all transgender people want or can have. It refers to the steps a person takes to live in the gender with which they identify, which could include things like telling friends and family or dressing differently.

There is a much larger body of literature around gender dysphoria and the psychological and physical effects of transitioning that are beyond the scope of the current report. Further information about, and support around, transitioning is available from organisations like the LGBT Foundation, Consortium and TransUnite.  

Stigma and discrimination

The stigma, prejudice and discrimination that LGBT+ people face often lead to higher stress levels ⁽¹³³⁾. This ‘minority stress’, which encompasses experiences of discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and more internalised feelings like shame, may contribute to the mental health problems reported within the LGBT community ⁽¹³³⁾.  

This ‘minority stress’ may also be linked to body image. For young men who have sex with men, one study found that internalised negative attitudes towards homosexuality and sexual orientation predicted overall body dissatisfaction, muscularity, and body fat ⁽¹³⁴⁾. Another recent study looking at the body image of non-binary and binary transgender people found that harassment or rejection was associated with lower levels of body appreciation by reducing self-esteem and satisfaction with life ⁽¹³⁵⁾. This was reflected in our survey, where 40% of the adults who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or other said they felt shame because of their body image, compared to 18% of the heterosexual adults. Similarly, 54% of adults who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or other felt their self-esteem was negatively affected by their body image in the past year, compared to 37% of the adults who identified as heterosexual.