Abnormal Eating Practices and Diverse Populations

One of the myths surrounding eating disorders is that they are a "white kid's problem." The truth is that body angst and unhealthy eating practices beleaguer people of all races and ethnicities. There are increasing data that body dissatisfaction is equally common among Asian American, Hispanic, and Caucasian women and somewhat less common among African American women. The latter group is less inclined to idolize thinness or to restrict food intake, even with the weight gain that accompanies puberty. The difference in body satisfaction between African American and Caucasian women seems greatest for those in their 20s, disappearing at around age 40.

Fitting in, being one's own person, making and keeping friends-these everyday trials and tribulations of adolescence are hard enough. But when changes such as moving to a new home or entering a new school occur, even the most resilient young person can feel off-kilter. Immigrant families face these stressors on a mammoth scale as they encounter values, norms, and even a language that may be very different from their own. For a young person to enter a classroom worlds away from her former one and see a host of unfamiliar faces requires enormous courage and fortitude. Longing for acceptance by her new schoolmates, she may adopt their codes of behavior; for example, she might dress like them, listen to the music they enjoy, read their favorite magazines, view their preferred TV shows and movies, and use their popular expressions as well as their instant messaging vocabulary. If they diet, she may too.

As a parent, you may feel ambivalent about whether (and to what degree) to adopt the culture of your new land or adhere to tradition.

Perhaps you grapple with decisions regarding which set of norms (the old, the new, or some combination) to encourage in your children. Then there is the question of what to do if your child insists on dieting or on other peer- and media-driven aspects of society that are unlikely to be in her best interest. Torn between two cultures, a person might turn to disordered eating behaviors as an attempt to escape inner conflicts. Yet one doesn't have to be an immigrant or the child of an immigrant to face these challenges; the need for acceptance combined with the pressures of mainstream culture can lead to turmoil for many young people and contribute to the development of disordered eating.

Teaching Your Child About Teasing and Bullies

Although not all demographic groups ascribe to the same body ideal, weight bias is a problem in our society. Many individuals erroneously associate a large body size with laziness, ineptitude, emotional insecurity, friendlessness, and an unsatisfying dead-end job. In contrast, thinness conjures up images of perfection, high achievement, loving relationships, initiative, and leadership. Teasing about body weight can have a negative effect on how a child or teen feels about herself and may play a role in her development of abnormal eating patterns. Girls who reach puberty earlier than their peers may be particularly vulnerable to cruel body comments. Yet they are not the only ones who are teased. Many girls recall the overwhelming hurt or anger they felt when they were called names related to the size or shape of their bodies. Cultural mandates for slenderness can be so demanding that individuals sometimes consider themselves or others overweight when, by objective standards, that is not the case.