The prevalence of eating disordered attitudes and behaviors in Black-American and Caucasian-American college women

The prevalence of eating disorders and severely distorted eating attitudes and behaviors in both caucasian-American and Black-American populations is reported to have increased during the past decade (Gray & Ford, 1985; Maloney & Klykylo, 1983; Pumariega, Edwards, & Mitchell, 1984). College students of several racial groups were studied to examine the levels of clinical and subclinical eating disorders. Three different college populations were used: two from predominantly Black-American universities, and one from a predominantly Caucasian-American university. The prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in Black-American and Caucasian-American college women was compared as well as the subjects' socioeconomic status, race, and cultural identification. A questionnaire was completed by 379 female students. Attitudes and behaviors about eating, dieting, and body image were tested using standardized measures of disordered eating. It was found that there were no significant differences due to socioeconomic status in the occurrence of full and subclinical eating disorders. There was, however, a higher prevalence of eating disorders and subclinical attitudes and behaviors related to eating disorders in Black-American students than previously found.