Dr. Gupta is a licensed psychologist and professor at Barnard College, Columbia University. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety and eating/weight issues at 
African-Americans vs Hispanics vs Caucasians: Racial comparisons in binge eating disorder
January 26, 2012
Do African-Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics differ when it comes to binge eating? Do they engage in binge eating at similar rates and have similar attitudes towards eating and weight? Twenty prominent researchers from universities throughout the United States examined these questions in a new study released online.
The study, to be published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, examines over 1,000 adults who previously sought treatment for binge eating disorder in various research trials. Although the numbers of African-American (120) and Hispanic (64) participants is relatively low, there were enough minorities to make statistical comparisons to Caucasians.
The researchers found no differences between racial groups in the frequency of binging, or how often people engaged in binge eating. However, there were differences in attitudes towards body shape and weight. Specifically, Hispanics reported more difficulties and concerns with their eating and body shape compared to Caucasians. This difference remained even when researchers took into account levels of education and BMI.
The study also revealed that African-Americans had a higher body mass index (BMI) compared to Caucasians. This was true despite the fact that African-Americans reported restricting their diet more than Caucasians. It’s not clear why African-Americans had a higher BMI, but the authors speculate it may be related to differences in exercise, which wasn’t assessed. Another possible explanation lies in the specific population studied - African-Americans may not seek treatment in research trials unless their BMI is extremely high.
An important thing to keep in mind is that the study only examined people seeking treatment in research trials. These people aren’t necessarily representative so we don’t know if the same similarities and differences exist among African-Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics in the general population. Nevertheless, the study is a strong reminder that binge eating affects people across racial-ethnic groups.
Photo credit: hermannyin