Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia are described often, as “culture-bound syndromes” with roots in Western values although there is some research to   suggest that social and cultural milieu do not influence eating disorder development.  Neither the exposure to Western television nor acculturation to Western norms was related to eating disorder symptomatology between Iranian women living in Iran and Iranian women living in America.  (Abdollahi)

Some experts, however, “blame” the increase in eating disorders among Hispanic women on the media’s on-going obsession with  body image and weight.  According to the Academy for Anorexia and Related Eating Disorders, children, on average, watch over 21 hours of television per week.        Because Latin American women are gaining increased access into mainstream media, susceptibility to media messages and desire to acculturate to    meet the already existing American ideal follows right along side.    Idols like Penelope Cruz and Jennifer Lopez transformed the traditional ‘ideal’ of the fuller, more voluptuous Hispanic female form into one that resembles the contemporary ideal associated with Caucasian women, 5’9” and 112lbs.  The ideal weight and height for a woman of 5’9” forty years ago was 145lbs, a more realistic and healthy number for a woman of this height.  Research at       University of Arizona found that among Hispanic, white, and African-American girls in grades 4-12, Hispanic girls were as likely as their peers to develop     an eating disorder, however, they had greater weight loss attempts than their racial counterparts. (Shisslak)  A 1996 study at the University of South   Florida, found that Caucasian and Hispanic Americans had greater weight-related body image disturbance than African-Americans and Asian Americans. This is alarming and given that overall, women of Hispanic origin tend to have a greater body mass index than women of Caucasian and Asian decent, weight loss efforts among this group is growing.   As a result, it may be more difficult for Hispanic-American women to achieve the ideal in Western     culture since genetics are a strong determinant of our body shape and size, yet starvation and purging are equally high between Hispanic and Caucasian Americans.

The causes for the development of eating disorders are complicated.  Many within the eating disorder professional community do not see Media      influence as causal, but the media acts rather as a reinforcement of eating disorder symptomatology.  The circumstances that cause eating disorders   have been brewing in an individual long before any symptomatology develops.  The media influence, characterization and idealization of the American woman, “tall and thin”, standard of beauty, and idolization of celebrities forced the hand among a population of individuals already vulnerable.  The eating disorder develops in response to internal and relational conflicts; the media influence is the means to find a way out of psychological distress.  “If I look   lose weight and feel like I fit in, then I won’t feel so bad about myself, my life and my relationships,” is the typical mantra of an eating disorder sufferer.  Causes for eating disorders among the Hispanic American population are no different than for any other racial, cultural or religious group.  Depression, complicated family conflicts, alcoholism, sexual and/or physical abuse, neglect, lack of emotional nurturance and support within a family represent          causal factors in the development of an eating disorder.  Eating Disorders are, and will likely remain, psychological disorders with serious medical consequences, which are often in conjunction with other psychological and psychiatric conditions.  

Equally, or perhaps more concerning to the incidences of eating disorders among the Hispanic-American population, is the fact that there is a lack of treatment opportunities available to Hispanic Americans.  In a random sample of 289 participants with reported eating issues, researchers investigated referral of ethic minorities to eating disorder treatment services and found that both Latino and Native American participants were “significantly less likely than Whites to receive a recommendation or referral for further evaluation or care.  Ethnic minority subjects with self-acknowledged eating and weight concerns were also significantly less likely than non-minority participants to have been asked by a doctor about eating disorder symptoms.” (Becker)      The study concludes that clinician bias may be a significant contributor to the lack of referral of minority populations for eating disorder evaluation and/or treatment.  

Hispanic Americans are the largest growing “minority” group in America and soon will represent 50% of the population.  There are certain issues facing     all individuals with eating disorders who attempt to contend with the American Health care industry; Hispanic Americans have additional obstacles.       Eating disorder treatment is expensive and remains poorly covered by many “quality” health insurance policies.  Faced with obstacles regarding access    to quality health care, bias against referral for treatment, and greater economic challenges, the Hispanic-American population has the proverbial “road ahead of them” toward change.  Congressional bills have passed in the Senate (S1172) which would offer grants for the training of health professionals     as well as conduct programs that promote healthy eating and exercise to prevent eating disorders and obesity but more is needed to address the increasing mental health needs for all individuals with eating disorders and the unique challenges that Hispanic-Americans with eating disorders face.

Altabe, M. Ethnicity and body image: Quantitative and quality Analysis.  International Journal of Eating Disorders. March 1998

Becker, A. Ethnicity & differential access to care for eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders. March 2003.

Cachelin F.M.  Barriers to treatment for eating disorders among ethnically diverse women.  International Journal of Eating Disorders.  November 2001.

Feminist Daily News. 6/17/2003. Eating Disorders Rising Among Hispanic Women

Miller, K.J.  Comparisons of Body Image Dimensions by Race/Ethnicity and gender in a university population.  International Journal of Eating Disorders.  April 2000.