Cultural adaptation of an integrated eating disorders prevention and healthy weight management program

Abstract

Background Both eating disorder (ED) prevention and weight management interventions often focus on the thin ideal. Yet, many Black and Latina women do not view thinness as their body ideal. This study used focus groups to investigate the influence of race, ethnicity, and culture on appearance ideals and inform the cultural adaptation and integration of two established programs addressing EDs and weight management: the Body Project, and Healthy Weight Interventions. Methods White (n = 10), Black (n = 14), and Latina (n = 6) women participated in racially and ethnically homogenous focus groups. Results Thematic analysis identified several themes, including: (1) diverse beauty standards across groups, (2) lack of acknowledgement of racialized beauty standards in prevention and cultural appropriation, (3) culturally-specific impacts of standards, (4) harm of appearance-related comments, (5) limitations of available resources, (6) stigma/minimization of mental health, (7) barriers to inclusive programming, and (8) facilitators of inclusive programming. Conclusions Results suggested that current programs’ emphasis on thinness limit their relevance for women of color, and perpetuate the misconception that EDs primarily affect White women. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive prevention.