Racial variations in binge eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise among men.

Abstract

Binge eating in young men is associated with obesity and metabolic dysfunction, as well as disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Although preliminary research suggests that Asian American males might be more likely to binge eat and report body image concerns compared with men of other races/ethnicities, few studies have investigated racial variations in this disordered eating behavior and its correlates. The goal of the current study was to examine binge eating, body image concerns, drive for muscularity, and compulsive exercise in a sample of Black, Asian American, and White men (N = 365). Results suggest that men who reported binge eating also reported higher body mass, male body image concerns, internalization of the male body ideal, and compulsive exercise than men who did not engage in binge eating. Asian American men endorsed higher body image concerns relative to White and Black men. Furthermore, compulsive exercise was particularly high among Asian American men with binge eating. Although additional research is needed to examine potential variations in binge eating, body image, and compulsive exercise in diverse racial and ethnic groups, results suggest that Asian American men might be at higher risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors consistent with a desire to achieve a muscular body type. Future research should examine cultural factors, such as acculturation, that might contribute to these potentially harmful cognitions and behaviors.

Body Dissatisfaction in a Diverse Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: The P18 Cohort Study

“…The mean dissatisfaction scores were in line with existing research that has used the MBAS with general samples or primarily heterosexual samples (Griffiths, Angus, Murray, & Touyz, 2014; Griffiths, Murray, & Touyz, 2015; Kelly, Cotter, Tanofsky-Kraff, & Mazzeo, 2014; Tylka et al, 2005), as well as samples of adult gay men (Blashill, 2010; Blashill & Vander Wal, 2009b; Tylka & Andorka, 2012). The overall dissatisfaction score in the present study was slightly lower than prior findings ( M =2.99 here, versus 3.05–3.46 elsewhere) as was the muscularity dissatisfaction score ( M =2.99 versus 3.14–3.5 elsewhere).…”

Annual review of Asian American Psychology, 2014.

“…S. Yi, Ruff, Jung, & Waddell, 2014), body mass and obesity ( n = 3; Cassel, Braun, Ka’opua, Soa, & Nigg, 2014; Franzen-Castle & Smith, 2014; Y. Park et al, 2014), body image and eating disorders ( n = 6; Chang, Yu, & Kahle, 2014; H.-L. Cheng, 2014; de Guzman & Nishina, 2014; Kelly, Cotter, Tanofsky-Kraff, & Mazzeo, 2014; Masuda, Le, & Cohen, 2014; Smart & Tsong, 2014), and diabetes ( n = 4; Inouye, Matsuura, Li, Castro, & Leake, 2014; Qiao et al, 2014; T. Tran, Allen, Nguyen, Lee, & Chan, 2014; T.…”

“…Eating and weight-related issues emerged as important health issues in different developmental periods throughout the entire life span: from maternal feeding and child nutrition (Cachelin et al, 2014; H. V. Chung et al, 2014; Momin et al, 2014); to dietary habits, obesity and body dissatisfaction during puberty/adolescence (de Guzman & Nishina, 2014; Franzen-Castle & Smith, 2014; Tiedje et al, 2014); to body image, compulsive exercise (in males), and eating disorders among young adults (H.-L. Cheng, 2014; Kelly et al, 2014; Masuda, Le, et al, 2014); and to diabetes in middle aged and older adults (T. Tran et al, 2014).…”

“…As an example, a study of undergraduate men from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds found that Asian American men had more body image concerns relative to their White and Black peers, and that compulsive exercise was a particular problem among Asian American men with binge eating habits (Kelly et al, 2014). Results suggested that the desire to achieve a muscular body type may put Asian American men at elevated risk for disordered eating symptoms and compulsive exercise.…”

Assessing the roles of impulsivity, food-related cognitions, BMI, and demographics in the dual pathway model of binge eating among men and women

“…Finally, Caucasian and African-American men appear to be at a similar risk for disordered eating and associated risk factors (Kelly, Cotter, Tanofsky-Kraff, & Mazzeo, 2014).…”