Cross-cultural research on anorexia nervosa: Assumptions regarding the role of body weight

Objective: To critically examine two assumptions guiding cross-cultural res earch on the weight concerns of anorexia nervosa: (I) that weight concerns are specific to contemporary, Western manifestations of the disorder and (2 ) that the dissemination of Western values regarding thinness is primarily responsible for the development of anorexia nervosa in non-Western contexts . Method: A review of theoretical and empirical literature on crosscultural aspects of anorexia nervosa and the medical records of 14 Asian patients t reated for eating disorders in Sydney, Australia. Results and Discussion: R egarding the first assumption: If is argued that weight concerns when defin ed as weight loss that is positively valued (rather than a fat phobia) is a defininig characteristic of anorexia nervosa and is not limited to contemp orary, Western cases of the disorder. Regarding the second assumption: If i s argued that the occurrence of anorexia nervosa in non-Western contexts ca nnot be solely attributed to the acceptance of Western thinness ideals beca use values and practices intrinsic to non-Western cultures are also likely to be etiologically relevant. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.