Eating Disorders Are NOT Racist
For years eating disorders have been considered a “white girl” problem. However, it has become more and more obvious that illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia do not discriminate, affecting males and females of all races.
According to Doctor Noelle Kerr-Price, eating disorder specialist, “One thing to keep in mind that we don’t even really know the full extent of how many people have eating disorders because many cases aren’t reported out of shame or people are misdiagnosed– if they are diagnosed at all. And those are the fortunate ones with access to health care and other recovery resources.” Kerr-Price, along with many other eating disorder specialists, argues that shame from other community members may prevent many minorities to fessing up about their EDs. Not to mention the problem of cost. The high cost of treatment can make it unrealistic for people with low-incomes. Even for those with health insurance, many policies have limits regarding care for mental illnesses. Some treatments can cost up to $10,000 a week, even forcing families to take out second mortgages. EDs may not be only for rich kids but the treatment sure is! If people of low-income backgrounds are ashamed to seek help or simply can’t afford it, they will not be accounted for statistically.
If black women feel pressure to conform to the prevalent body type of the “dominant culture”, they are more likely to develop eating disorders. Those with more education, for instance, are more at risk. Though EDs aren’t just a white girl problem, they do tend to plague a certain “type” of person. “People who are upwardly mobile and trying to assume power within the dominant culture are most likely to be subject to its norms,” states clinical psychologist, Deb Burgard. Though anyone can certainly struggle with forms of anorexia and bulimia, the more one assimilates to the “dominant culture”—the more that one tries to fit into size zero outfits that white designers created, and into (unfortunately) white-dominated offices—the more one equates thinness with beauty.
Interesting post. Were do you got all of the details
Ms. Aaron,
Thank you so much for shedding light on this epidemic. Epidemic may seem like a very harsh word to use, but a epidemic is just what having a eating disorder is and no one understanding you or believing you just because of the color of your skin.
I’m living this very nightmare, and I hate it. I have been struggling for years to try and get help or to find some sort of peace, but I can’t because I feel that I’m fight this battle alone. I know that there are other black women like me, but as you stated there is a shame that automatically comes with this mental disorder. The shame of being laughed at, reticule, and most importantly, denied treatment just because of a person inability to pay.
I’m currently a graduate student majoring in clinical psychology, and every chance I get, I try to write a paper, just to shed some sort of light on this subject. Or at times I feel that this is a plea for help on my own behalf and it allows me to speak the truth without being judged.
I plan on attending the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) conference this fall, in hopes that may be I’m able to find some sort of support, do some networking, in hopes that I and others like myself can get the help that we desperately want/need, and most importantly deserve.
Thank you again for this article.
Blessings,
Jarriyah Thomas