Racial/Ethnic disparities in binge eating: disorder prevalence, symptom presentation, and help-seeking among Asian Americans and non-Latino Whites.
Asian Americans are more likely than non-Latino Whites to report binge eating, but are equally likely to meet binge eating disorder (BED) criteria. Using nationally representative data, we assessed whether differences in symptom reporting contributed to this disparity. Asian Americans were less likely than Whites to endorse BED symptoms related to distress or loss of control despite a higher prevalence of binge eating; they were also less likely to receive services for eating problems. Findings suggest cultural differences might lead to under-recognition of binge eating in Asian Americans.
Angela Lee-Winn, Tamar Mendelson, and Ramin Mojtabai are with the Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Angela
A
Lee-Winn
Tamar
T
Mendelson
Ramin
R
Mojtabai
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*