Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Eating Disorders

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Download book PDF
Download book EPUB
Handbook of Mental Health in African American Youth

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Child and Family Studies ((SSCFS))

  • 3333 Accesses

Abstract

Although eating disorders once were considered to occur most frequently among White upper middle class female adolescents, they are now known to affect all racial and ethnic groups. For African American youth, the prevalence of binge eating, which is associated with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and obesity, is equal or higher compared to all other racial and ethnic groups. Not surprisingly, African American youth also have the highest overweight and obesity prevalence rates when compared to any other racial and ethnic group in the USA. Despite the increased presence of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors and obesity in African American youth, research in this area remains quite limited. This chapter summarizes current research on eating disorders in African American youth. Risk factors for African American youth are discussed. Finally, culturally relevant treatment approaches for African American youth presenting with disordered eating attitudes and behaviors are provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams, K. K., Allen, L. R., & Gray, J. J. (1993). Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, psychological adjustment, and ethnic identity: A comparison of black and white female college students. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 14, 49–57. doi:101002/1098-108X(199307)14:1<49::AID-EAT2260140107>3.0.CO;2-Z

    Google Scholar 

  • Alegria, M., Woo, M., Cao, Z., Torres, M., Meng, X., & Striegel-Moore, R. (2007). Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in Latinos in the United States. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, S15–S21.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2006). Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with eating disorders (revision). American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodell, L. P., Hames, J. L., Holm-Denoma, J. M., Smith, A. R., Gordon, K. H., & Joiner, T. E. (2012). Does the stress generation hypothesis apply to eating disorders? An examination of stress generation in eating, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 142, 139–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, O. L., Matheson, B., Osborn, R., Vannucci, A., Koslosky, M., Shomaker, L. B. … Tanofsky-Kraff, M. (2012). Loss of control eating in African American and Caucasian youth. Eating Behaviors, 13, 174–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choate, L. H. (2010). Interpersonal group therapy for women experiencing bulimia. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 35(4), 349–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coker, A., Meyer, D., Smith, R., & Price, A. (2010). Using social justice group work with young mothers who experience homelessness. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 35(3), 220–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Constantine, M. G., & Blackmon, S. M. (2002). Black adolescents’ racial socialization experiences: Their relations to home, school, and peer self-esteem. Journal of Black Studies, 32, 322–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, W. E., Jr., & Vandiver, B. J. (2001). Nigrescence theory and measurement: Introducing the cross racial identity scale (CRIS). Handbook of Multicultural Counseling, 371–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, W. T., Klesges, L. M., Beech, B. M., Kitzmano, K. M., Kent, A. E., & Veazey Morris, K. D. (2007). Comparisons between African American girls’ and parents’ perceptions of girls’ weight concerns and weight control behaviors. Eating Disorders, 15, 231–246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Day-Vines, N. L., Patton, J. M., & Baytops, J. L. (2003). Counseling African American adolescents: The impact of race, culture, and middle class status. Professional School Counseling, 7, 40–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dounchis, J. Z., Hayden, H. A., & Wilfrey, D. E. (2001). Obesity, body image, and eating disorders in ethnically diverse children and adolescents. In J. K. Thompson & L. Smolak (Eds.), Body image, eating disorders and obesity in youth (pp. 67–91). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Downing, R. A. (2004). Perceptions of racism and classism in health care: Comparing the standpoints of poor and middle class women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eliot, C. A., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., & Mirza, N. M. (2013). Parent report of binge eating in Hispanic, African American and Caucasian youth. Eating Behaviors, 14, 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrada-Martinez, L. M., Caldwell, C. H., Bauermeister, J. A., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2012). Stressors in multiple life-domains and the risk for externalizing and internalizing behaviors among African Americans during emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41, 1600–1612.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, S., Malacrne, V. L., Wilfley, D. E., & McQuaid, J. (2006). Factor structure of the Bulimia Test-Revised in college women from four ethnic groups. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 12, 403–419.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flowers, K. C., Levesque, M. J., & Fischer, S. (2012). The relationship between maladaptive eating behaviors and racial identity among African American women in college. Journal of Black Psychology, 38(3), 290–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franko, D., Becker, A., Thomas, J. J., & Herzog, D. B. (2007). Cross-ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms and related distress. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, 156–164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franko, D. L., & George, J. B. E. (2009). Overweight, eating behaviors, and body image in ethnically diverse youth. In L. Smolak & J. K. Thompson (Eds.), Body image, eating disorders, and obesity in youth (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franko, D. L., & George, J. B. E. (2010). Cultural issues in eating pathology and body image among children and adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35, 231–242. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsp064

    Google Scholar 

  • George, J. B., & Franko, D. L. (2006). Eating disorders, culture, and ethnicity: Connections and challenges in group therapy. Group, 30, 307–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, J. B. E., & Franko, D. L. (2010). Cultural issues in eating pathology and body image among children and adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35(3), 231–242.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grabe, S., & Hyde, J. S. (2006). Ethnicity and body dissatisfaction among women in the United States: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 622–640.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Granberg, E. M., Simons, R. L., Gibbons, F. X., & Melby, J. N. (2008). The relationship between body size and depressed mood: Findings from a sample of African American middle school girls. Youth & Society, 39, 294–315. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0044118X07301952

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, B. (1994). African American women. In L. Comas-Diaz & B. Greene (Eds.), Women of color: Integrating ethnic and gender identities in psychotherapy (pp. 10–29). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, K. V., & Laszloffy, T. A. (1995). The cultural genogram: Key to training culturally competent family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21(3), 227–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, S. M. (1994). Racial differences in predictors of college women’s body image attitudes. Women & Health, 21, 89–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D. J., & Kuba, S. A. (1997). Ethnocultural identity and eating disorders in women of color. Health Care for Women International, 22, 341–347. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/073993301300357205

    Google Scholar 

  • Helms, J. E., & Cook, D. A. (1999). Using race and culture in counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and process. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Allyn, and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henrickson, H. C., Crowther, J. H., & Harrington, E. F. (2010). Ethnic identity and maladaptive eating: Expectancies about eating and thinness in African American women. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16, 87–93. doi:10.1037/a0013455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holcomb-McCoy, C. C. (2005). Empowerment groups for urban African American girls: A response. Professional School Counseling, 8, 390–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W. G., Rohan, K. J., & Kirk, A. A. (2002). Prevalence and correlates of binge eating in White and African American adolescents. Eating Behaviors, 3, 179–189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, N. R., Bulik, C. M., & Mazzeo, S. E. (2011). An exploration of body dissatisfaction and perceptions of Black and White girls enrolled in an intervention for overweight children. Body Image, 8(4), 379–384.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kempa, M. L., & Thomas, A. J. (2000). Culturally sensitive assessment and treatment of eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 8(1), 7–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. S. K., & Abreu, J. M. (2001). Acculturation measurement: Theory, current instruments, and future directions. In J. G. Ponterotto, J. M. Casas, L. A. Suzuki, & C. M. Alexander (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural counseling (2nd ed., pp. 394–424). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumanyika, S., & Grier, S. (2006). Targeting interventions for ethnic minority and low-income populations. The Future of Children, 16, 187–207. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/foc.2006.0005

    Google Scholar 

  • Landrine, H., & Klonoff, E. (1996). The schedule of racist events: A measure of racial dis-crimination and a study of its negative physical and mental health consequences. Journal of Black Psychology, 22, 144–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logio, K. A. (2003). Gender, race, childhood abuse, and body image among adolescents. Violence Against Women, 9, 931–954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lydecker, J. A., Cotter, E., Gow, R. W., Kelly, N. R., & Mazzeo, S. E. (2013). Preventing childhood obesity. American Counseling Association, 32, 169–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mintz, L. B., & Kashubeck, S. (1999). Body image and disordered eating among Asian American and Caucasian college students: An examination of race and gender differences. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 23, 781–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D. R., Wall, M. M., Haines, J. L., Story, M., Sherwood, N. E., & van den Berg, P. A. (2007). Shared risk and protective factors for overweight and disordered eating in adolescents. American Journal Preventative Medicine, 33, 359–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicdao, E. G., Hong, S., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2007). Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders among Asian Americans: Results from the National Latino and Asian American Study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, S22–S26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., Lamb, M. M., & Flegal, K. M. (2010). Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association, 303, 242–249.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, S. K. (2003). African American women and eating disturbances: A meta-analysis. Journal of Black Psychology, 29, 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olvera, N., Dempsey, A., Gonzalez, E., & Abrahamson, C. (2013). Weight-related teasing, emotional eating, and weight control behaviors in Hispanic and African American girls. Eating Behaviors, 14, 513–517.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, D. G. (2003). Talkin’ Back. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez, M., Voelz, Z. R., Pettit, J. W., & Joiner, T. E., Jr. (2002). The role of acculturative stress and body dissatisfaction in predicting bulimic symptomatology across ethnic groups. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31, 442–454. doi:10.1002/eat.10006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pernick, Y., Nichols, J. F., Rauth, M. J., Kern, M., Ji, M., Lawson, M. J., & Wilfley, D. (2006). Disordered eating among a multi-racial/ethnic sample of female high-school athletes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 689–695. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.07.003

    Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J. S. (1992). The multigroup ethnic identity measure: A new scale for use with diverse groups. Journal of Adolescent Research, 7, 156–176. doi:http:dx.doi.org/10.1177/074355489272003

    Google Scholar 

  • Poran, M. A. (2006). The politics of protection: Body image, social pressures, and the misrepresentation of young Black women. Sex Roles, 55, 739–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read, S., & Hurst, K. (2013). Family-based therapy for children and adolescents with anorexia (pp. 399–423). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, T. N., Chang, J. Y., Haydel, K. E., & Killen, J. D. (2001). Overweight concerns and body dissatisfaction among third-grade children: The impacts of ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Journal of Pediatrics, 138, 181–187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders-Thompson, V. L., Noel, J. G., & Campbell, J. (2004). Stigmatization, discrimination, and mental health: The impact of multiple identity status. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 74, 529–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, L. (2004). Diagnosis and treatment planning in counseling (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shuttlesworth, M. E., & Zotter, D. (2011). Disordered eating in African American and Caucasian women: The role of ethnic identity. Journal of Black Studies, 42(6), 906–922.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, R. (2010a). Counseling a bi-racial female college student with an eating disorder: A case study applying an integrative biopsychosocialcultural perspective. Journal of College Counseling, 13, 182–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, R. (2010b). Treating Asian American women with eating disorders: Multicultural competency and empirically supported treatment. Eating Disorders, 18, 58–73. doi:10.1080/10640260903439540.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smolak, L., & Striegel-Moore, R. H. (2001). Challenging the myth of the golden girl: Ethnicity and eating disorders. In R. H. Striegel-Moore & L. Smolak (Eds.), Eating disorders: Innovative directions in research and practice (pp. 111–132). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Story, M., Stevens, J., Himes, J., Stone, E., Rock, B. H., Ethelbah, B., et al. (2003). Obesity in Amerian-Indian children: Prevalence, consequences, and prevention. Preventive Medicine, 37, S3–S12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2008). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (5th ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suisman, J. L., Slane, J. D., Blurt, A., & Klump, K. L. (2008). Negative affects as a mediator of the relationship between weight-based teasing and binge eating in adolescent girls. Eating Behaviors, 9, 493–496.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, S. A., Crow, S. J., Le Grange, D., Swendsen, J., & Merikangas, K. R. (2011). Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7), 714–723.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Talleyrand, R. M. (2006). Potential stressors contributing to eating disorders in African American women: Implications for mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 28, 338–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talleyrand, R. M. (2010). Eating disorders in African American girls: Implications for counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 88(3), 318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J. Y., Caldwell, C. H., Baser, R. E., Faison, N., & Jackson, J. S. (2007). Prevalence of eating disorders among Blacks in the National Survey of American Life. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, S10–S14.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, B. (1994). A hunger so wide and so deep. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Utsey, S. O., & Ponterotto, J. G. (1996). Development and validation of the index of race-related stress (IRRS). Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43, 490–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van de Berg, P. A., Mond, J., Eisenberg, M., Ackard, D., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2010). The link between body dissatisfaction and self-esteem in adolescents: Similarities across gender, age, weight, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Journal of Adolescent Health, 47, 290–296.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandiver, B. J., Cross, W. E., Worrell, F. C., & Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (2002). Validating the cross racial identity scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 71–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whaley, A. L. (2001). Cultural mistrust: An important psychological construct for diagnosis and treatment of African Americans. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32, 555–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. B., Frame, M. W., & Green, E. (1999). Counseling groups for African American women: A focus on spirituality. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 24(3), 260–273. doi:10.1080/01933929908411435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witherspoon, D., Latta, L., Wang, Y., & Black, M. M. (2013). Do depression, self-esteem, body-esteem, and eating attitudes vary by BMI among African American adolescents? Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 38, 352–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, N. A., & Petrie, T. A. (2010). Body dissatisfaction, ethnic identity, and disordered eating among African American women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 57, 141–153. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0018922

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q., & Wang, Y. (2004). Trends in the association between obesity and socioeconomic status in the U.S. adults: 1971-2000. Obesity Research, 12, 1622–1632.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Counseling and Development Program, Graduate School of Education, George Mason University, Fairfax Campus, Krug Hall 201A, 4400 University Drive, MS 1H1, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Regine M. Talleyrand

Authors
  1. Regine M. Talleyrand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Regine M. Talleyrand .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University Medical Cente, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Alfiee M. Breland-Noble

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School, RICHMOND, Virginia, USA

    Cheryl S. Al-Mateen

  3. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta Univ, Dept of Psychiatry & Health Behavior, Augusta, GA, Georgia, USA

    Nirbhay N. Singh

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Talleyrand, R.M. (2016). Eating Disorders. In: Breland-Noble, A., Al-Mateen, C., Singh, N. (eds) Handbook of Mental Health in African American Youth. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25501-9_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation