TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms among college students
T2 - The confounding role of body mass index
AU - Arriaza, Cecilia A.
AU - Mann, Traci
PY - 2001/5
Y1 - 2001/5
N2 - Eating disorders are among the most common psychopathologies on college campuses. Research on ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms and prevalence has resulted in conflicting conclusions. Some studies find that particular ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of a symptom; others find that members of that ethnic group have a lower prevalence of the same symptom. The authors explored the role of body mass index (BMI), one potential confound. They used a reliable measure of eating disorder symptoms to assess differences between Hispanic, Asian, and non-Hispanic White college women from two separate samples. After controlling for BMI, ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms of concern about weight and shape disappeared, but differences in restrained eating remained. Inconsistent findings in the ethnic-difference literature on eating disorders may result from systematic group differences in BMI. Implications for college health programs, counseling, and case finding are discussed.
AB - Eating disorders are among the most common psychopathologies on college campuses. Research on ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms and prevalence has resulted in conflicting conclusions. Some studies find that particular ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of a symptom; others find that members of that ethnic group have a lower prevalence of the same symptom. The authors explored the role of body mass index (BMI), one potential confound. They used a reliable measure of eating disorder symptoms to assess differences between Hispanic, Asian, and non-Hispanic White college women from two separate samples. After controlling for BMI, ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms of concern about weight and shape disappeared, but differences in restrained eating remained. Inconsistent findings in the ethnic-difference literature on eating disorders may result from systematic group differences in BMI. Implications for college health programs, counseling, and case finding are discussed.
KW - Body mass index
KW - Eating disorders
KW - Ethnicity
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U2 - 10.1080/07448480109596317
DO - 10.1080/07448480109596317
M3 - Article
C2 - 11413948
AN - SCOPUS:0035350935
SN - 0744-8481
VL - 49
SP - 309
EP - 315
JO - Journal of the American College Health Association
JF - Journal of the American College Health Association
IS - 6
ER -