Acculturation and eating pathology among overweight and obese African American women

This study examined the relationship between acculturation and eating pathology among overweight/obese African American women seeking weight loss treatment. It was hypothesized that overweight/obese African American women more acculturated to African American culture would exhibit less eating pathology compared to those less acculturated to African American culture. Participants were 94 overweight/obese African American women seeking weight loss treatment in community settings. Acculturation was assessed using the African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS) and neighborhood ethnic composition (% African Americans). Eating pathology was assessed using the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), the Eating Inventory (EI), and the Binge Scale. The AAAS Ethnic Preferences subscale and the EDI Bulimia subscale were negatively correlated. The AAAS Health Beliefs subscale and the EI Disinhibition factor were positively correlated. No other AAAS subscales and eating pathology measures were related. There were also no significant differences in eating pathology between participants living in neighborhoods with different ethnic compositions.