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Brown KL, Bettencourt AF, Hines AL, Cooper LA, Gudzune KA. Association Between Maladaptive Eating Behaviors Among Black Women and Vicarious Racial Discrimination Following a High-Profile Event. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-01994-2. [PMID: 38578573 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-01994-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evidence suggests that racial discrimination causes stress among non-Hispanic Black women, and some Black women may cope with exposure to vicarious racial discrimination by engaging in maladaptive eating behaviors. METHODS We examined eating behaviors among Black women (N = 254) before and after Freddie Gray's death while in police custody. Maladaptive eating behaviors were assessed using the three-factor eating questionnaire. Our independent variables included the following: (1) time period and (2) geographic proximity to the event. Three two-way analysis of covariance tests were conducted to assess potential effects of geographic proximity (close, distant), time period in relation to unrest (before, after unrest), and their interaction on emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint controlling for participant age. RESULTS There was a statistically significant main effect of proximity to the unrest on emotional eating, F (1, 252) = 5.64, p = .018, and partial η2 = .022 such that women living in close geographic proximity to the unrest reported higher mean levels of emotional eating as compared to those living more distant to the unrest. There was also a borderline statistically significant interaction between geographic proximity and time period on cognitive restraint, F (1, 252) = 3.89, p = .050, and partial η2 = .015. CONCLUSION Our study found a relationship between vicarious racial discrimination and maladaptive eating behaviors among Black women. Future work should examine stress related to vicarious racial discrimination and maladaptive eating behaviors longitudinally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristal Lyn Brown
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Amie F Bettencourt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anika L Hines
- Department of Health Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Population Health, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lisa A Cooper
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kimberly A Gudzune
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kilpela LS, Marshall VB, Keel PK, LaCroix AZ, Espinoza SE, Hooper SC, Musi N. The clinical significance of binge eating among older adult women: an investigation into health correlates, psychological wellbeing, and quality of life. J Eat Disord 2022; 10:97. [PMID: 35799222 PMCID: PMC9264536 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One type of overnutrition, binge eating (BE; eating an unusually large amount of food with loss of control), is prevalent among older adult women. Yet, little is known about the clinical significance of this eating disorder pathology in older adults, especially in relation to health outcomes used in geriatrics, while controlling for associations with body mass index (BMI). METHOD Women (N = 227) aged 60-94 completed two measures of BE and health/wellness questionnaires online. We used multivariable analyses to compare women with Clinical-frequency BE (≥ weekly frequency), Subclinical-frequency BE (< weekly), and No BE on health/wellness outcomes controlling for BMI. We conducted partial correlations controlling for BMI to examine associations between BE severity and health indices. RESULTS Controlling for BMI, the Clinical-frequency BE group reported poorer health-related quality of life (physical function, role limitations due to both emotional and physical problems, vitality, emotional wellbeing, social function, and pain) and poorer psychological health (depression, body image) compared to both Subclinical-frequency BE and No BE. The Clinical-frequency BE group also reported poorer sleep, nutritious food consumption, general health, and positive affect compared to No BE. Associations between a separate measure of BE severity and health indices confirmed findings from group comparisons. CONCLUSION Weekly BE may offer a promising screening benchmark for identifying one type of overnutrition in older women that is associated with numerous indicators of poorer health, independent of the effects of BMI. More research is needed to understand risks for and consequences of BE unique to older adult women. Binge eating (BE; eating an unusually large amount of food with loss of control), is prevalent among older adult women and is associated with health problems in younger populations. Yet, little is known about how BE is related to other health problems in older adults. We compared health behaviors, physical health, health-related quality of life, and psychological health between older adult women who reported weekly or more frequent BE (i.e., Clinical BE), those with low frequency BE (i.e., Subclinical BE), and those with no BE, while accounting for BMI. Older women in the Clinical BE group reported poorer health-related quality of life, more depression symptoms, and worse body image compared to the Subclinical BE and No BE groups. Compared to the No BE group, the Clinical BE group also reported poorer sleep, less frequent consumption of nutritious foods, worse health, and less frequent positive emotions. Using a separate measure of BE severity, we found similar associations with these health outcomes. Engaging in weekly BE may represent one type of overnutrition behavior in older women that is associated with numerous indicators of poorer health. More research is needed to understand risks for and consequences of BE unique to older adult women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Smith Kilpela
- Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- South Texas VA Health System, Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Victoria B Marshall
- Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Pamela K Keel
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Andrea Z LaCroix
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sara E Espinoza
- Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- South Texas VA Health System, Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Savannah C Hooper
- Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nicolas Musi
- Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- South Texas VA Health System, Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, TX, USA
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