Body Image

Body Image

Research section required

Body Image

Body weight dissatisfaction, dieting for weight loss, and disordered eating were considered in the past to be largely restricted to Western societies and particularly prevalent among Caucasian females (e.g., Nasser, 1988). For example, studies comparing weight and weight-related attitudes of Black women with those of White Caucasian women have shown that while Black women tend to be heavier and more likely to be overweight, they demonstrate lower levels of body weight dissatisfaction, dieting, and disordered eating than White women (Abood; Abrams; Dawson; Dolan; Edwards; Gray; le; Rucker and Striegel).

Much of the research in this area to date has focussed on body weight and eating-related behaviours of African African women in the US. Few studies have examined these factors among different ethnic groups, and results of existing studies are contradictory. For example, while some studies have shown the prevalence of body weight dissatisfaction and disordered eating to be low in Asian women (Akan; Buhrich; Chen and Zhang), other studies of Chinese students in Hong Kong (Lee and Lee) demonstrated high levels of body dissatisfaction and strong desires for slimness amongst females. In a review of relevant case studies, Davis and Yager (1992) reported that disordered eating symptoms (including fear of fatness, drive for thinness, and distorted body image) among non-Caucasian populations (including Asian, Hispanic, African, and Middle Eastern groups) were similar to those reported by Caucasian women with eating disorders. Furthermore, some studies have reported that rates of eating pathology, dieting, and/or weight concerns among Asian, Indian, or Black women are actually higher than those of Caucasian women (Field; Mumford; Robinson; Sjostedt; Smith and Striegel). While few comparative studies appear to have directly assessed these factors in subgroups of European women, findings of several studies indicate that the body weight, levels of weight dissatisfaction, and disordered eating practices of European women are not dissimilar to those of women in the US (e.g., Krch; Santonastaso and Tordjman). Findings of another recent study indicated significant eating disorder pathology among women of various ethnic origins in South Africa (Wassenaar, le Grange, Winship, & Lachenicht, 2000). Together, such findings challenge the assumption that eating disorders, dieting, and weight concerns are characteristic of Western, Caucasian populations only.

Recently, several studies have investigated “acculturation” effects on eating and weight-related factors in minority groups. Popkin and Udry (1998) examined patterns of obesity by generation of birth in adolescent immigrants in the US. A strong acculturation effect was found for both Hispanic and Asian groups—children born in the US of immigrant parents were more likely to be obese than Asian or Hispanic children born outside the US. Similarly, Sundquist and Winkleby (2000) reported that both country of birth and acculturation status were significantly associated with abdominal obesity in Mexican African men and women. Lauderdale and Rathouz (2000) reported that among Asian Africans born outside the US, the longer the duration in the US, the higher the risk for overweight. Studies have also reported evidence of comparable high levels of weight concerns or eating disorder symptoms for ...