Sociocultural factors in the development of anorexia nervosa in a Black woman.
BACKGROUND
In an earlier study, we found that anorexia nervosa (AN) does not occur among Black women on the Caribbean island of Curaçao.


METHODS
A case report is presented of a Black Antillean woman with AN, who was referred to a center for eating disorders in The Netherlands. In Curaçao, our patient succeeded in gaining weight to become more attractive. Due to subsequent problems in the relationship with her partner, she deliberately lost weight to become less attractive.


RESULTS
After immigrating to The Netherlands, she adopted the Western cultural ideal of thinness and developed AN.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the role and possible effects of sociocultural factors in the development of AN.
Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Ellen M C
EM
Willemsen
Hans W
HW
Hoek
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D009427:Netherlands Antilles / Q000208:ethnology; D012931:Social Environment