Abnormal eating attitudes and behaviours in two ethnic groups from a female British urban population

Journal/Book: Psychol Med. 1996; 26: 40 West 20TH Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. Cambridge Univ Press. 289-299.

Abstract: African-Caribbean (N = 136) and White British (N = 192) female family planning clinic attenders were administered the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). A proportion of the participants were subsequently interviewed. The African-Caribbeans were found to have both significantly more disordered eating attitudes and a significantly higher level of abnormal eating behaviour than the White British. Although the African-Caribbean group had a significantly higher mean Body Mass Index this did not mediate the difference in levels of eating attitudes. When compared with the White British group more African-Caribbean women reported feelings of failure, guilt, abnormality and self-consciousness concerning their eating habits. The results indicate that eating problems may be highly prevalent in this ethnic minority population and suggest that there may be differences in the nature of eating disorder psychopathology between ethnic groups.

Note: Article D Reiss, Inst Psychiat, Dept Forens Psychiat, de Crespigny Pk, London SE5 8AF, England

Keyword(s): ANOREXIA-NERVOSA; CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS; SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS; ASIAN SCHOOLGIRLS; BLACK-ADOLESCENTS; BULIMIA NERVOSA; DISORDERS; WOMEN; PREVALENCE; WEIGHT

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