NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA: A SENSITIVE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE MUST GO

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.5583422307113

• Palavras-chave: nutrition; nutritional assessment; transgender; health.

• Keywords: nutrition; nutritional assessment; transgender; health.

• Abstract:

  As the transgender community grows worldwide, along with the health demands that the transsexualization process involves, it will become increasingly common to provide nutritional care aimed at this population. Even in this scenario, there are currently no guidelines that train the nutritionist regarding the tools that are considered safer in relation to the health of the transgender individual, considering that all components of nutritional assessment are based on reference values. based on biological sex. The present work sought to clarify, through the available literature, which guidelines represent the most appropriate in relation to the processes of care and nutritional assessment of transgender individuals. The chosen methodology was developed through an integrative review, using the following keywords: “nutrition and transgender” and “nutrition and transsexuality” applied to indexed databases and also considered as inclusion criteria the publications made between 2012 and 2022, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The scarcity of studies aimed at exploring the nutritional health aspects of these individuals was evident. However, it was possible to conclude that in their conduct, professional nutritionists choose to use references according to the patient's gender identity and that they individualize nutritional care, taking into consideration, the range of values between recommendations for both sexes, when deemed appropriate. It is necessary for professional nutritionists to seek greater knowledge regarding transgender health, understand their unique needs and be prepared to act in a multidisciplinary way to guarantee the health and well-being of this population, so that, this way, they can reduce barriers to health and alleviate the stigma faced by the transgender population.