Media and Cultural Influences in African-American Girls’ Eating Disorder Risk

Abstract

Objective. To investigate media and cultural influences in eating disorder development in African-American adolescent females. Method. Fifty-seven participants were recruited through churches and community organizations to complete a questionnaire. Results. Mainstream sociocultural identification was associated with more eating disorder behavior in African-American females; cultural ethnic identification was not significantly associated with eating disorder behavior in African-American females, mainstream sociocultural identification, cultural ethnic identification, and body dissatisfaction significantly predicted eating disorder behavior; and cultural ethnic identification was positively correlated with mainstream sociocultural identification. This study provides support for the importance of eating disorder prevention interventions that focus specifically on African-American girls.

Development and validation of the body shape scale (BOSHAS) for assessing body shape perception in African populations

“…In somatocharts (generated with the Somatotype 1.0 software package), mesomorphy is represented by the vertical axis pointing upward; endomorphy by the horizontal axis pointing to the left; and ectomorphy by the horizontal axis pointing to the right. The coordinates 951 on the left side present, for instance, the highest degree of endomorphy [9], a medium degree of mesomorphy [5] and the lowest degree of ectomorphy [1]. The red squares represent Cameroonian males and the purple ones Senegalese males.…”

“…Body weight perceptions can be driven by body size norms portrayed in advertising, especially with the globalisation of contemporary consumer society [1]. This could result in body image disturbances and eating disorders in populations traditionally less acquainted with body image disorders related to 'Western' contexts [2][3][4].…”

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Body Image Disturbances Among South African Mothers and Their Daughters Living in Soweto, Johannesburg

“…14,15 Furthermore, the media has been acknowledged to influence contemporary thinking toward favoring thinner body sizes among younger adults. 16,17 Thus, African cultural values of body size, perceived as a protective factor toward common modern body image disturbances and eating disorders, seems to be diluted in young people through acculturation of Western influence. 14,18,19 Hence, in the context of an increasing obesity epidemic in SSA, it is therefore important to understand the acculturation toward thinness occurring in African populations, as well as the persistence of tradition valorization of stoutness.…”