The prevalence of eating disorder pathology in a cross-ethnic population of female students in South Africa

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of eat ing disorder pathology in female students representing South Africa's ethni cally diverse population. A secondary aim was to explore relationships betw een eating disorder pathology, Body Mass Index (BMT), and socioeconomic sta tus (SES). Method: In a questionnaire survey of a cross-section of South African colle ge students, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) was administered to a conv enience sample of 628 students (52 per cent white, 38.6 per cent black, and 9.4 per cent Asian, Persons from Indian descent). EDI subscale scores were calculated and compared by ethnicity. BMI scores were related to EDI subsc ale scores and to categorizations of respondents' SES status and rural vers us urban origins. Results: White women showed the highest EDI body dissatisfaction (p < 0.01) , while blacks the highest drive for thinness and perfectionism (p < 0.01). Asians scored highest on interpersonal distrust (p < 0.01). There were mar ked differences between ethnic groups with regard to BMI, eating pathology and SES. High BMI was associated with urbanization and low SES. Rising SES was associated with lower BMI scores. Blacks had higher BMI scores than whi tes and Asians. Discussion: The results show significant eating disorder pathology in South African women across ethnic diversity. Our findings challenge the assumpti on that eating disorder pathology is confined to Western societies and rais e the possibility that the risk for eating disorders in developing countrie s may be increasing. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating D isorders Association.