Eating habits and the drive toward thinness: A cross-cultural comparison

Reports of the increasing prevalence of eating disorders in Western, industrialized societies have recently led to investigations among non-European ethnic groups (e.g., Blacks, Asians) within such societies. Such studies have revealed a lower prevalence of disturbed eating habits and attitudes in these groups. The present study sought to extend such comparisons by including subjects who live in a society that may not predispose its members to developing pathological eating. A total of 310 participants from one of three groups were used: Greek women residing in Greece, Greek-American women, and American women with a Western-European background. Measures included dieting concern, binge-eating tendencies, and body image dissatisfaction. A final measure investigated cultural standards for ideal body size. Results suggested no differences among the groups in abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors, or in cultural ideals of body size.Chairperson: James Gray.