MINORITIES JOIN THE MAJORITY - EATING DISTURBANCES AMONG HISPANIC AND NATIVE-AMERICAN YOUTH

Researchers have begun to realize that disturbed eating behaviors and attitudes are not restricted to white, middle class, college-aged females. Yet investigations typically have not focused upon high school minority populations, particularly Hispanics or native Americans. This study administered the Eating Disorder Inventory and the Bulimia Test to 545 high school Hispanic, native American, and white (nonHispanic) youths. The native Americans consistently scored the highest on each of seven items representing disturbed eating behaviors and attitudes. Significant ethnic group differences were detected for binge eating when broadly defined, and for self-induced vomiting as a weight-control technique. Significant sex differences were found on four of the seven measures. Noteworthy was the dramatic difference in binge eating prevalence estimates as a consequence of the operational definition adopted. Adherence to the stricter criteria resulted in percentages for the native Americans (14.2%), Hispanics (13.1%) and nonHispanic whites (10.1%) which were much lower than those reported when the more general definition was applied. Results were discussed in terms of the need to address this rapidly growing problem among minority adolescents.