Culture and body image: Body perception and weight concern in young Asian and Caucasian British women

Compensatory behaviors among racial and ethnic minority undergraduate women

Limited research has examined prevalence rates of disordered eating across racial and ethnic groups. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of compensatory behaviors across minority undergraduate women. Self-report responses (N = 3,430) on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire were analyzed from 2,094 White (55.9%), 684 Hispanic/Latina (18.3%), 508 Asian (13.6%), 235 Black (6.3%), and 65 Native American/Alaskan Native (1.7%) women attending college within the United States. Racial and ethnic differences were significant across all compensatory behaviors. Most notably, Asian and Native American women engage in compensatory behaviors comparable to or more than their White peers, and Black women consistently reported the lowest prevalence rate of any behavior. Findings were compared to the existing literature, noting general trends across studies that may help inform screening, assessment, and treatment of eating pathology as well as suggest future directions for intervention science.

Relationship between body image and weight status in east Asian countries: comparison between South Korea and Taiwan

BACKGROUND

There are many studies examining the relationship between body image and weight status that compare Western and Asian countries. One limitation of these past studies was assuming that all Asian countries are a homogeneous group. To fill the gap in the literature, this study examined the relationship between body image and weight status between participants from two Asian countries.

METHODS

This study utilized data from the 2010 module of the East Asian Social Survey from South Korea (n = 1576) and Taiwan (n = 2199), which contained questions related to body image. Body image was originally measured using a five-point Likert-type question, which was collapsed into three categories for the analysis. Weight status was derived from body mass index scores, which were calculated using self-reported weight and height. A set of multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between body image and weight status, stratified by country.

RESULTS

A significant relationship between body image and weight status after controlling for relevant covariates was reaffirmed in this study in the South Korean and Taiwanese. Results indicated that the relationship between body image and weight status of the Taiwanese sample was similar to the relationship in the South Korean sample. However, the results from a further analysis showed that the strength of the relationship across the two Asian countries appeared to be different.

CONCLUSIONS

The weight over-perception was more evident in South Korea than in Taiwan. Females were more vulnerable to societal pressures for thinness and the misperception of the ideal body than males. Interventions to improve distorted body image perception were needed in both countries.

Self-perceived food addiction: Prevalence, predictors, and prognosis

Food addiction is controversial within the scientific community. However many lay people consider themselves addicted to certain foods. We assessed the prevalence and characteristics of self-perceived "food addiction" and its relationship to a diagnostic measure of "clinical food addiction" in two samples: (1) 658 university students, and (2) 614 adults from an international online crowdsourcing platform. Participants indicated whether they considered themselves to be addicted to food, and then completed the Yale Food Addiction Scale, measures of eating behavior, body image, and explicit and internalized weight stigma. Participants in the community sample additionally completed measures of impulsivity, food cravings, binge eating, and depressive symptomatology. Follow-up data were collected from a subset of 305 students (mean follow-up 280 ± 30 days). Self-perceived "food addiction" was prevalent, and was associated with elevated levels of problematic eating behavior, body image concerns, and psychopathology compared with "non-addicts", although individuals who also received a positive "diagnosis" on the Yale Food Addiction Scale experienced the most severe symptoms. A clear continuum was evident for all measures despite no differences in body mass index between the three groups. Multinomial logistic regression analyses indicated that perceived lack of self-control around food was the main factor distinguishing between those who did and did not consider themselves addicted to food, whereas severity of food cravings and depressive symptoms were the main discriminating variables between self-classifiers and those receiving a positive "diagnosis" on the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Self-perceived "food addiction" was moderately stable across time, but did not appear predictive of worsening eating pathology. Self-classification as a "food addict" may be of use in identifying individuals in need of assistance with food misuse, loss-of-control eating, and body image issues.

Disordered Eating, Acculturation, and Treatment-Seeking in a Community Sample of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and White Women

The purpose of this study was to examine disordered eating, acculturation, and treatment-seeking in a community sample of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and White women. Participants were 118 women with disordered eating (49 Hispanic, 21 Asian, 23 Black, and 25 White) and 118 healthy controls. Interviews were conducted to assess eating and weight-related behaviors, psychiatric symptoms, acculturation, and health care usage. Results indicated that the four ethnic groups were equally likely to present behavioral symptoms of bulimia, anorexia, or a binge-eating disorder. Hispanics were the most likely to use diuretics, and Black women were the most likely to use laxatives. Despite psychological distress among the eating disorder group, only a small percentage had received treatment during the past year; the eating disorder group was more likely than the controls to report that they had been denied treatment. More acculturated individuals were more likely to suffer from eating problems, and among the eating disorder group, less acculturated individuals were less likely to have received treatment.

Talking of Taste: A Discourse Analytic Exploration of Young Women's Gendered and Racialized Subjectivities in British Urban, Multicultural Contexts

This article presents an analysis of interviews conducted with young Asian and white women living in urban, `multicultural' areas in the UK. Specifically, the article explores how these young women constitute their own and others' differently gendered, sexualized and racialized identities and subjectivities through their talk about styles of appearance and tastes in, for example, clothing, clothing labels, hairstyles and cosmetics. In so doing, the article aims to elucidate, first, some of the complex intertwinings of gender and ethnicity in these young women's accounts and, second, the equally complex and shifting politics of gender and ethnicity, which are simultaneously constituted, subverted and reconstituted in these young women's talk about styles of appearance.

Urbanisation and geographic variation of overweight and obesity in India: a cross-sectional analysis of the Indian Demographic Health Survey 2005-2006

OBJECTIVES

We examined the nationwide geographic variation of overweight and obesity in India, as well as a range of potential correlates of excess body fat.

METHODS

We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the 2005-2006 Indian Demographic Health Survey (IDHS), based on 161,050 individuals (age range 18-54 years). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios (OR) of overweight and obesity compared to normal weight with associated correlates.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence was 12.4% for overweight, 3.2% for obesity, and 26.5% for underweight. After multivariate adjustment, obesity was nearly thrice more likely in urban areas than in rural (OR 2.73, 95% CI 2.53-2.94). Women were 2.71 times more likely to be obese than men (95% CI 2.50-2.95). Better socioeconomic status was significantly associated with overweight and obesity. Overweight (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.31-1.47) and obesity (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.32-1.61) were most likely to occur in India's Southern zone, when controlled for confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

High-risk estimates for overweight/obesity in urban settings, along with socioeconomic prowess in India and the resulting nutritional transition make a compelling case for public health policy on healthy lifestyles to avert the growing burden of non-communicable diseases associated with overweight/obesity.

Disordered eating and body image in Chinese and Caucasian students in the United States

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the roles of exposure to Western culture and language choice and gender differences in disordered eating symptoms in Chinese and Caucasian students.

METHOD

796 Caucasian and 194 Chinese students completed measures of eating disorder symptoms, body image, and body esteem. Participants chose their survey language (English or Chinese).

RESULTS

Caucasian women had higher levels of body dissatisfaction than Chinese women. Women of both ethnicities reported more disordered eating symptoms and body dissatisfaction than men; these differences were smaller for the Chinese group. Differences emerged on certain dimensions of body esteem between Chinese women who responded in Chinese and those who responded in English.

CONCLUSIONS

There were few differences between ethnicities, suggesting that mechanisms other than Western culture play a role. Cultural variables may account for the degree of intra-ethnic gender differences. Individuals who complete studies in their native language may differ from their English-responding counterparts in areas of body esteem.

Which body features are associated with female adolescents' body dissatisfaction? A cross-cultural study in Australia, China and Malaysia

This study investigated how dissatisfaction with various aspects of the body is associated with overall body dissatisfaction among female adolescents in Western and Asian cultures. Data used in the study were obtained from 58 Malaysian Malays, 95 Malaysian Chinese, 242 Chinese from China, and 81 non-Asian Australians aged 12-19 years (M=15.72, SD=1.72) who were recruited from high schools. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing dissatisfaction with their body overall, and dissatisfaction with varying aspects of their body. Malaysian Chinese were the most dissatisfied with their bodies. After controlling for body mass index (BMI), age and dissatisfaction with weight/shape, upper, middle and lower body, and muscles, dissatisfaction with the face was positively correlated with overall body dissatisfaction among Malaysian Malays and Australians. These findings demonstrate the importance of using assessment measures that address all possible areas of body focus as well as being tailored to the relevant culture.

Body image and self-esteem among Asian, Pacific Islander, and White college students in Hawaii and Australia

Body image and its relationship to self-esteem was examined among Asian, Pacific Islander, and White women and men from Hawaii and Australia (n = 172). Although Pacific Islander and White participants had higher body mass indices than Asians, Pacific Islanders were more satisfied than Asians with their health and more satisfied than Asians and Whites with their appearance. Thus, higher body weight and greater body satisfaction may co-occur among Pacific Islanders, whereas lower weight and lower body satisfaction may co-occur among Asians. The findings suggest different levels of risk for body image dissatisfaction, and its associated psychological consequences, across ethnic groups.

The effect of South Asian ethnicity on satisfaction with primary cleft lip and or palate repair

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of South Asian ethnicity on satisfaction with cleft lip and or palate repair, post-primary repair.

PARTICIPANTS

All data were gathered from patients attending the adult cleft service in the West Midlands. Subjects had unilateral or bilateral cleft lip with, or without, palatal involvement. Patients were aged between 16 and 65. Clefts were non-syndromic. 15 South Asian and 95 Caucasian subjects were compared.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Satisfaction with cleft repair was assessed using the Satisfaction with Appearance scale (SWA), which is a scale of 0-100. Data gathered were analysed using multiple linear regression with ethnicity, age, gender, cleft type and deprivation score as independent variables.

RESULTS

South Asians were found to be less satisfied with many aspects of their cleft surgery. Satisfaction with nose and speech were found to be significantly less in the South Asian group compared with the Caucasian group (mean difference >20, p<0.01). Multiple linear regression showed that ethnicity was still significant when adjusted for age, gender, cleft type and deprivation score.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found significant differences in levels of satisfaction between South Asian and Caucasian groups, despite a small sample size. These findings highlight the need for further clinically orientated research in this field.

A comparative study of body image of Australian and Pakistani young females

This research compares Australian and Pakistani females on body image attitudes. The sample consisted of Caucasian-Australian and Pakistani first year university students, ranging in age from 17 to 22. The Pakistani sample was subdivided into two groups: Urdu-medium and English-medium, representing the middle and upper social classes, respectively. The results revealed that, although all the groups identified a similar body shape as the 'ideal', the Australian females expressed significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction on all measures of body image than did the Pakistani females. Within the Pakistani sample, females from the English-medium institutions expressed greater weight concern than did the Urdu-medium females. The findings are discussed in terms of the possible role of cultural values in shaping the body image attitudes of young females.

Eating disorders and body image concerns in Asian American women: assessment and treatment from a multicultural and feminist perspective

Eating disorders are one of the most lethal psychiatric illnesses and affect millions of individuals worldwide. While they have been more typically attributed to middle class, Caucasian, adolescent females, current research suggests that there is a similar prevalence of eating disorders and their symptoms, especially body dissatisfaction, among Asian American girls and women. Despite this, very little research has investigated how culture and gender may impact the assessment and treatment of eating disorders for Asian American women. This review examines the literature on the prevalence of eating disorders and negative body image in Asian American women and describes current research on the efficacy of a variety of theoretical approaches for treatment, including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and feminist perspectives. Recommendations for considering culture and gender when working clinically with Asian American women who experience eating concerns as well as suggestions for future research directions are provided.

Eating disorders in Asian populations: a critique of current approaches to the study of culture, ethnicity, and eating disorders

There is increasing evidence that eating disorders are present among ethnically diverse populations, and researchers have suggested that investigations in this area may inform the field's understanding of how sociocultural factors are related to the development of eating disorders. Although it is generally accepted that sociocultural factors are key in eating disorder etiology, knowledge on how best to study these influences in diverse groups is still limited. In this article, the authors review how the research literature has explored relationships among culture, ethnicity, and eating disorders in Asian populations and critically examine strategies that have been used to investigate these issues across 1 ethnic/racial group. The methodological challenges encountered in these approaches are identified and considered in the provision of recommendations for future endeavors to improve the field's understanding of how culture is related to eating disorders.

Asian body image satisfaction: ethnic and gender differences across Chinese, Indo-Asian, and European-descent students

This study extends previous research on ethnocultural differences in body image satisfaction by comparing two distinct Asian groups with a European descent group (N = 1471). Canadian undergraduates completed self-report body image measures. Participants descended from China reported the lowest levels of body satisfaction. Body satisfaction of participants descended from Indo-Asia was the next lowest, significantly lower than their European descent counterparts. The body satisfaction of women was lower than that of men across all groups and all participants expressed a desire to be thinner. The results suggest that one cannot generalize across Asian populations, as there may be significant differences between various ethnic minority groups.

Internalization of ideal body shapes in 9-12-year-old girls

OBJECTIVE

Body dissatisfaction is reported in girls as young as 9 years old in Western countries. In the current study, internalization of the "thin ideal" was predicted to be a critical influence on the development of body dissatisfaction.

METHOD

Participants (n = 356) were weighed and completed measures of body dissatisfaction, awareness and internalization of the thin ideal, and peer and maternal attitudes and behavior. Exposure to relevant print media was also assessed.

RESULTS

Body dissatisfaction was associated with a higher body mass index, although it was not restricted to overweight girls. Internalization mediated the relationship between awareness of the sociocultural standard of appearance and body dissatisfaction. Media exposure and peer and maternal weight-related attitudes and behavior were, in turn, related to awareness, supporting the hypothesized sociocultural processes.

DISCUSSION

Internalization operates as a central component in the development of body dissatisfaction, occurring at a young age in some girls. Internalization may be a suitable target for preventive strategies.

Body image and weight consciousness among South Asian, Italian and general population women in Britain

Italians in Britain have low rates of coronary heart disease while South Asians have high rates, which correspond to a tendency to central abdominal fat deposition and overweight. World variations in attitudes to body size are thought to be related to economic security. This cross-sectional study employed a range of measures including photographic silhouettes of known BMI to investigate the attitudes of 259 South Asian, Italian and general population women (aged 20-42 years) towards body size. Migrants are compared with British-born minority members. Our results indicate that although migrant South Asians were less happy with their weight than migrant Italians, fewer had tried to lose weight in the past or had experienced external pressures to change their bodies. More migrant South Asians than Italians or general population women equated one of the four largest shapes (BMI 28-38) with health and successful reproduction. All groups wanted to resemble one of the two thinnest shapes, equating them with longevity, likelihood of marriage and job success. British-born South Asians generally showed a considerable degree of convergence towards general population women's negative attitudes to large body size, but British-born Italians' attitudes were significantly more negative even than general population women. The study's conclusions were that South Asian health beliefs are an important focus of resistance to slimness. The tendency of migrant South Asians to equate large size with health contrasts with the opposing views of Italian and general population women. British-born South Asians' views are modifying from those of migrants, but significant differences remain when compared with general population women and British-born Italians. Present differences in economic security offer only a partial explanation; South Asian attitudes may be explained by economic insecurity in the past.

The roles of ethnicity and culture in the development of eating disturbance and body dissatisfaction: a meta-analytic review

This meta-analysis involved 35 studies examining eating disturbance and body dissatisfaction in white and non-white populations and the role of acculturation in the development of eating-related psychopathology. While the role of acculturation in predisposing non-whites to eating disorders remains to be determined, mean effect sizes indicate that whites report more eating disturbance than non-whites. Differences are greatest when studies compare black and white college samples on measures of subclinical eating pathology, like dietary restraint, ideal body shape, and body dissatisfaction. They are weakest when non-clinic populations and clinical forms of eating disturbance, like bulimia nervosa, are examined. These findings suggest that the current literature may be incorrect in its view that subclinical and clinical forms of eating disturbance represent the poles of a single continuum. In addition, they call into question the belief that SES influences the development of eating pathology.