FOOD+NUTRITION By Whitney Trotter MS, RDN/LDN, RN, RYT
Eating Disorders Affect People of Every Color, Gender & Size Eating disorders are serious mental, physical, and emotional conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact health and the ability to function. There is a lack of awareness of eating disorders among the general population; and most believe that eating disorders only happen to affluent, cis, thin, white women. However, eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender identity, and sexual orientation. While no one knows for certain what causes eating disorders, a growing consensus suggests that it is a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Even though eating disorders are classified as mental health conditions, they can have physical and physiological stressors as well. The most frequently diagnosed eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating.
Anorexia nervosa is the restriction of energy intake relative to requirements leading to significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by consuming large amounts of food while feeling out of control and engaging in compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Behaviors may include self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medication; fasting; or excessive exercise.
Binge eating disorder
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is characterized by binge eating (within a two-hour period) without the compensatory behaviors characteristic of Bulimia. The binge-eating episode may be accompanied by eating more than normal, eating until uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food independent of physical hunger, eating alone due to embarrassment of consuming such large quantities, and guilt after consuming large amounts of food. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.
Many times, eating disorders go unscreened in communities of color. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) says, “Despite similar rates of eating disorders among non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians in the United States, people of color are significantly less likely to receive help for their eating issue.”(1) Even though Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teenagers to exhibit bulimic behavior, such as binging and purging(1), they are less likely to be treated. Often by the time a person of color has an assessment and diagnosis of an eating disorder, the disease has taken an emotional, mental, and physical toll on their body. In fact, research shows that approximately one in four people with an eating disorder have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
