The Prevalence of Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviours in Black‐American and White‐American College Women: Ethnic, Regional, Class, and Media Differences

Abstract

AbstractThe prevalence of eating disorders and severely distorted eating attitudes and behaviours in both white‐American and black‐American populations is reported to have increased during the past decade. College students of different racial groups were studied to examine the levels of clinical and subclinical eating disorders. Three college populations were used: Two from predominantly black‐American universities, and one from a predominantly white‐American university in the United States. The tendency toward anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in behaviours and attitudes in black‐American and white‐American college women was compared as well as the subjects' socioeconomic status, region, race, cultural identification, and influences by the media and friends.A questionnaire was completed by 379 female students. Attitudes and behaviours about eating, dieting, and body image were measured using standardized tests of disordered eating. An acculturation measure was also completed by each subject. Differences were found between racial groups for the behaviours and attitudes of bulimia nervosa and binge eating: White‐Americans were more likely to be identified with the behaviours of bulimia nervosa than black‐Americans, and white‐Americans were significantly more likely to binge eat than black‐Americans. Subjects with the behaviours and attitudes of subclinical eating disorders were more likely to know friends with eating disorders, while those subjects with the behaviours and attitudes of bulimia nervosa and subclinical eating disorders read significantly more articles in magazines about eating disorders. In addition, subjects from the South region of the United States scored significantly lower on the Body Dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory than subjects from the Northeast or North Central regions. There were no significant differences due to socioeconomic status, acculturation, or television influences in the occurrence of eating disorders.