Mandy Lin1,2, Lindsay M Gillikin3, Anna Gabrielle G Patarinski3, Paakhi Srivastava3,4, Adrienne S Juarascio3,4. 1. Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. ml3598@drexel.edu. 2. WELL Center, Drexel University, 289 Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. ml3598@drexel.edu. 3. Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Black individuals are at risk for developing eating disorders (EDs), while also facing an increased mental health burden as a marginalized group. However, few studies have examined whether treatment-seeking Black individuals with EDs present with different symptom profiles than White individuals. This study sought to characterize baseline ED symptomatology in Black participants with bulimia nervosa spectrum or binge eating disorder spectrum pathology compared to White participants in a treatment-seeking sample. METHODS: The sample consisted of 33 Black participants and 126 White participants who participated in a clinical trial at a mid-Atlantic University from 2015 to 2020. Data was analyzed using chi-square and independent samples t-tests. RESULTS: Black participants were much less likely to engage in self-induced vomiting, despite being just as likely to meet criteria for a bulimia nervosa spectrum diagnosis and having similar rates of binge-eating and distress towards body image concerns. Black participants were more likely to experience obesity but maintained similar levels of body image concerns as White participants. CONCLUSION: Given the evidence that Black participants often are under-diagnosed, particularly with bulimia nervosa spectrum disorders, these results could suggest that weight biases and/or expectations that patients with bulimia nervosa spectrum disorders will primarily present with self-induced vomiting could be contributing to these diagnostic errors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, randomized controlled trials.
PURPOSE: Black individuals are at risk for developing eating disorders (EDs), while also facing an increased mental health burden as a marginalized group. However, few studies have examined whether treatment-seeking Black individuals with EDs present with different symptom profiles than White individuals. This study sought to characterize baseline ED symptomatology in Black participants with bulimia nervosa spectrum or binge eating disorder spectrum pathology compared to White participants in a treatment-seeking sample. METHODS: The sample consisted of 33 Black participants and 126 White participants who participated in a clinical trial at a mid-Atlantic University from 2015 to 2020. Data was analyzed using chi-square and independent samples t-tests. RESULTS: Black participants were much less likely to engage in self-induced vomiting, despite being just as likely to meet criteria for a bulimia nervosa spectrum diagnosis and having similar rates of binge-eating and distress towards body image concerns. Black participants were more likely to experience obesity but maintained similar levels of body image concerns as White participants. CONCLUSION: Given the evidence that Black participants often are under-diagnosed, particularly with bulimia nervosa spectrum disorders, these results could suggest that weight biases and/or expectations that patients with bulimia nervosa spectrum disorders will primarily present with self-induced vomiting could be contributing to these diagnostic errors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, randomized controlled trials.
Authors: Jose C Appolinario; Rosely Sichieri; Claudia S Lopes; Carlos E Moraes; Gloria V da Veiga; Silvia Freitas; Maria A A Nunes; Yuan-Pang Wang; Phillipa Hay Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2022-01-19 Impact factor: 4.519