Eating disorders amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (Indigenous Australians) have poorer mental health compared to other Australians. Yet, there is a lack of research into mental disorders among this population, especially for eating disorders (ED), which are amongst the most lethal and debilitating mental disorders. Aim We aimed to answer 2 questions: 1. What is the volume and content of literature on ED among Indigenous Australians? 2. Has a screening or diagnostic tool/instrument been developed for the assessment of ED amongst Indigenous Australians? Method We conducted a scoping review of electronic databases (Pubmeb, Embase, PsychInfo, Proquest, Cochrane Library, Indigenous HealtInfoNet and Scopus), for studies addressing ED, body image, muscle dysmorphia, weight and shape concern among Indigenous Australians, as well as diagnostic and screening tools. All relevant studies were reviewed in full by 2 researchers. Narrative synthesis of the data was performed. Results There is limited evidence for ED among Indigenous Australians, however, the evidence available strongly suggests that ED are more common among Indigenous Australians compared to other Australians. Eating disorders among Indigenous Australians are also associated with high levels of overvaluation of weight and shape. The increased risk of ED among Indigenous Australians was largely explained by factors such as poorer psychosocial wellbeing. No evidence was found for the existence of validated diagnostic or screening tools for ED in Indigenous Australians. Conclusion The evidence suggests ED are common among Indigenous Australians, and there are no diagnostic or screening tools available to assist clinicians in assessing them. More research is required in this field, especially towards the development of a validated and culturally specific screening or diagnostic tool for ED among Indigenous Australians.

Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline

“…There is limited research on the experience of eating disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, emerging research suggests that eating disorders are more common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and youth compared with non-Indigenous people [ 38 ].…”

Dimensional personality pathology and disordered eating in young adults: measuring the DSM-5 alternative model using the PID-5

“…In interpreting the results of the current study, there are some limitations that should be considered. As there is variability in ED presentations between ethnic backgrounds ( Rodgers et al, 2018 ) and between White and Indigenous Australians ( Burt et al, 2020 ), it is notable that the majority of participants who completed the survey for the current study identified as White. In addition, the data gathered from gender diverse participants was excluded from the statistical analyses conducted in this study.…”

Identifying overcontrol and undercontrol personality types among young people using the five factor model, and the relationship with disordered eating behaviour, anxiety and depression

“…It is notable that the majority of participants who completed the survey for the current study identified as White. There is variability in eating disorder presentations between ethnic backgrounds [ 86 ] and between White and Indigenous Australians [ 87 ]. We also relied on self-report measures in this study, and had to omit some scales due to unacceptable internal consistency.…”