Culture and eating disorders: A historical and cross-cultural review

CULTURAL beliefs and attitudes have been identified as significant contribu ting factors in the development of eating disorders. Rates of these disorde rs appear to vary among different racial/ethnic and national groups, and th ey also change across time as cultures evolve. Eating disorders are, in fac t, more prevalent within various cultural groups than previously recognized , both within American ethnic minorities and those in other countries. This review examines evidence for the role of culture as an etiological factor for the development of eating disorders. Historical and cross-cultural expe riences suggest that cultural change itself may be associated with increase d vulnerability to eating disorders, especially when values about physical aesthetics are involved. Such change may occur across time within a given s ociety, or on an individual level, as when an immigrant moves into a new cu lture. Further research into the cultural factors that promote the developm ent of eating disorders is much needed. Understanding how cultural forces c ontribute to the development of disorders is needed so that preventive inte rventions can be created.