Eating Disorders in Asian Populations: A Critique of Current Approaches to the Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Eating Disorders.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that eating disorders are present among ethnically diverse populations, and researchers have suggested that investigations in this area may inform the field's understanding of how sociocultural factors are related to the development of eating disorders. Although it is generally accepted that sociocultural factors are key in eating disorder etiology, knowledge on how best to study these influences in diverse groups is still limited. In this article, the authors review how the research literature has explored relationships among culture, ethnicity, and eating disorders in Asian populations and critically examine strategies that have been used to investigate these issues across 1 ethnic/racial group. The methodological challenges encountered in these approaches are identified and considered in the provision of recommendations for future endeavors to improve the field's understanding of how culture is related to eating disorders.

Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders among Asian Americans: Results from the national Latino and Asian American study

“…4,11 The majority of prior studies report no association between acculturation and eating disorders. 1,4,5 Our results show that the associations across several acculturation measures did not reach statistical significance. However, our analyses also show that age is strongly associated with BED and BE.…”

“…We create four diagnostic categories, using the algorithms proposed by Hudson et al 8 (Available at: www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/eating.php): anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and any binge eating (BE). 1,9 The NLAAS survey measures BED by asking if respondents engaged in eating binges at least twice a week for several months or longer. Any binge eating is measured as (1) having an episode of binge eating and (2) the episode occurred at least twice a week for several months or longer.…”

“…4 Several studies found few or no differences in prevalence of eating disorders among Hispanic, Asian, Black, American Indian, and White women. 1,5 Conflicting results on prevalence may be due to sociocultural factors that contribute to the etiology of eating disorders. 1 Despite these existing studies, research on eating disorders among Asian American populations remains scant.…”

“…1,5 Conflicting results on prevalence may be due to sociocultural factors that contribute to the etiology of eating disorders. 1 Despite these existing studies, research on eating disorders among Asian American populations remains scant. In particular, explanations for between-group differences on eating disorder symptoms and disordered eating behavior require further examination.…”

“…[1][2][3] Prevalence estimates of eating disorders among ethnic minorities are inconsistent. Some studies show lower levels of eating disorders for Asian Americans compared to Whites, whereas other studies show higher levels of eating disorders among Asian American women.…”