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Examining Prevalence and Presentations of Eating Disorders Across Racial/Ethnic Groups in a National, Population-Based Sample of College Students
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Examining Prevalence and Presentations of Eating Disorders Across Racial/Ethnic Groups in a National, Population-Based Sample of College Students

Carli P Howe, Seung Yeon Baik, Laura D'Adamo, Mia Kouveliotes, Zhaoyi Pan, Lawrence Monocello, Marie-Laure Firebaugh, Daniel Eisenberg, Michelle G Newman, Denise E Wilfley, …
The International journal of eating disorders, v 58(6), pp 1165-1177
Jun 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24427
PMID: 40152153
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24427View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Adolescent Adult Asian - psychology Asian - statistics & numerical data Black or African American - psychology Black or African American - statistics & numerical data Feeding and Eating Disorders - epidemiology Feeding and Eating Disorders - ethnology Female Hispanic or Latino - psychology Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data Humans Male Prevalence Students - psychology Students - statistics & numerical data United States - epidemiology Universities White - psychology White - statistics & numerical data Young Adult
Eating disorders (EDs) are prevalent in college students, yet limited research on EDs across racial/ethnic groups in population-based samples exists. This study aimed to examine differences in prevalence and presentations of EDs by race/ethnicity in a national college sample. Students at 26 US colleges/universities (N = 29,951) completed a population-based mental health screen. Prevalence of probable anorexia nervosa (AN), clinical/subclinical bulimia nervosa (BN) or binge-eating disorder (BED) and ED risk were examined across racial/ethnic groups by gender using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Among those with probable EDs, ED behavior frequency, weight/shape concerns, probable psychiatric comorbidities, and psychotherapy utilization were compared across groups using chi-square, Fisher's exact tests, and one-way analyses of variance. Asian women had higher AN prevalence than Black, Hispanic, and White women; AN prevalence in Black women was lower than Asian, Hispanic, Multiracial, and White women (p < 0.05). Hispanic women had higher BN/BED prevalence than Asian, Black, and White women, and higher ED risk prevalence than Asian, Multiracial, and White women (p < 0.05). Among those with EDs (N = 3929), there were no significant differences in ED behavior frequencies between any groups. White women had higher comorbid probable alcohol use disorder prevalence than Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Multiracial women (p < 0.05). Asian men had lower psychotherapy utilization than Black, Hispanic, Multiracial, and White men (p < 0.05). Prevalence of EDs was similar across racial/ethnic groups; where differences emerged, minoritized students often had a higher prevalence. Results highlight the need for routine ED screening for all college students.

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6 citations in Web of Science

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

Source: SDGs in the Output

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
Psychiatry
Psychology
Psychology, Clinical
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