“Las penas con pan duelen menos”: The role of food and culture in Latinas with disordered eating behaviors

Abstract

This study elucidated the experiences of eighteen Latina adults (mean age = 38.5 years) from “Promoviendo una Alimentación Saludable” Project who received nutritional intervention as part of the clinical trial. Half of the participants were first generation immigrants from Mexico (50%), followed by U.S. born with 16.7%. Remaining nationalities represented were Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, and Venezuela with 33.3% combined. The average duration of living in the U.S. was 11.1 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) at baseline was 36.59 kg/m2 (SD=7.72). Based on the DSM-IV, 28% (n=5) participants were diagnosed with binge-eating disorder, 33% (n=6) with bulimia nervosa purging type and 39% (n=7) with eating disorder not otherwise specified. Participants received up to three nutritional sessions; a bilingual dietitian conducted 97.8% of sessions in Spanish. In total, fifty nutritional sessions were included in the qualitative analysis. A three step qualitative analysis was conducted. First, a bilingual research team documented each topic discussed by patients and all interventions conducted by the dietitian. Second, all topics were classified into specific categories and the frequency was documented. Third, a consensus with the dietitian was performed to validate the categories identified by the research team. Six categories (describing eating patterns, emotional distress, Latino culture values, family conflicts associated with disturbed eating behaviors, lack of knowledge of healthy eating, and treatment progress) emerged from patients across all nutritional sessions. Considering the background of immigration and trauma (60%, n=15) in this sample; the appropriate steps of nutritional intervention appear to be: 1) elucidating the connection between food and emotional distress, 2) providing psychoeducation of healthy eating patterns using the plate method, and 3) developing a meal plan.

Coping strategies for stress management and its relationship with the level of obesity and quality of life in bariatric surgery candidates

“…13 Similarly, patients who choose bariatric surgery as treatment have been reported to show a coping style of based on emotions rather than on an active dimension, which may be associates with higher distress and bad adaptive behaviors. 12,14 While the association between stress and obesity, as well as the type of strategies for coping with stress and their effect on quality of life in individuals with overweight and obesity have been widely studied, there are only few investigations assessing these variables in bariatric surgery candidate population in Mexico, which leaves a great void in this area of knowledge, since Latin American population is prone to emotional coping associated with nutritional problems, overweight and obesity, 15 which can negatively affect the results of bariatric surgery. 14,16 Due to the above, the purpose of the present analysis was to identify and describe the association between the strategy for coping with stress, the perception of quality of life and the level of BMI in bariatric surgery candidates.…”

Family involvement in eating disorder treatment among Latinas

“…I said, I will not go and my husband was telling me, you have an appointment, do not forget your appointment, you have to go, it is helping you].” Third, receiving support from family facilitated positive changes in terms of recommended eating patterns. Some eating pattern changes required the commitment of the partner or other family members to promote more sustainable changes; during nutritional sessions, the development of a meal plan for the whole family enhanced adherence to healthy eating patterns (Reyes-Rodríguez et al, 2016). Fourth, the family sessions provided an opportunity for patients to share specific triggers of their ED behaviors in the context of family interactions (i.e., weight-related comments, eating together, and interpersonal conflict) and collaboratively brainstorm ways to create an environment conducive to recovery and improved family functioning.…”

Association between Time of Residence and OQ-45.2 and Self-Perception of Distress, Interpersonal Relationships, and Social Role in Venezuelan Immigrants in Lima, Peru 2018-19: Mixed-methods Study.

“…Of note, the weight gain seen in the Venezuelan population could be recuperation of lost weight due to the food shortages in Venezuela mentioned by informants. Other studies of Hispanic immigrants to the United States describe eating disorders and their association with the migration process as well as the connection between Hispanic culture and food (45)(46)(47).…”