Addressing Eating and Weight Disorders in Multicultural Populations

Eating disorders affect all populations from race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender and disabilities. These populations often remain undetected. Multicultural eating disorders studies also demonstrate that contributing eating disorder factors for multicultural populations may be unique to their race/ethnicity/sexual orientation/gender (Harris and Kuba, 1997; Harris, Kuba & O'Toole, 2012). Often these contributing factors involve cultural dynamics, racism, oppression, assimilation to dominant culture standards and identity confusion (Harris and Kuba, 1997; Harris, Kuba & O'Toole, 2012). The levels of impairment reported by multicultural populations with eating disorders coupled with their low levels of treatment utilization have serious consequences (Marques, et.al., 2010; Alegria, et.al., 2007). Review current research and screening models for multicultural populations in this workshop. You are asked to bring your curiosity and share your experiences. Discuss areas for further research and clinical care in a collaborative fashion with the instructor and your fellow students.