Barriers to treatment for eating disorders among ethnically diverse women.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined barriers to treatment in an ethnically diverse community sample of women with eating disorders.


METHODS
Participants were 61 women (22 Hispanics, 8 Asians, 12 Blacks, 19 Whites) with eating disorders. Diagnosis was determined using the Eating Disorder Examination. Treatment-seeking history, barriers to treatment seeking, ethnic identity, and acculturation were assessed.


RESULTS
Although 85% of the sample reported wanting help for an eating problem, only 57% had ever sought treatment for an eating or weight problem. Individuals who had sought treatment reported being significantly more distressed about their binge eating than those who had not sought treatment and having begun overeating at a younger age. Of those who had sought help, 86% had not received any treatment for their eating problems. The main barriers to treatment seeking were financial reasons.


CONCLUSIONS
Women from minority groups who have eating disorders are underdiagnosed and typically not treated.
Cachelin
F M
FM
California State University, Los Angeles, California 90032-8227, USA. fcachel@calstatela.edu
Rebeck
R
R
Veisel
C
C
Striegel-Moore
R H
RH
D000328:Adult; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005006:Ethnicity; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D013315:Stress, Psychological