Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a complicated problem that is experienced by individuals regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, social class, nationality, and being a part of a certain community. The significance of cultural implications of binge eating is seen when considering the culturally diverse makeup of patients affected by this disorder and evaluating how cultural norms play a role in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of this disorder.
Davis et al. (2020) argue that there is no gender characteristic in this disorder. While both men and women are vulnerable to BED, women are more often associated with it, as it is only a comparatively recent issue. Nevertheless, some of the newest researches indicate that the rate of males who have been diagnosed with BED is higher than what has been noticed previously, so awareness about gender diversity is the crucial point in understanding and tackling this disorder.
Minorities that are ethnic and racial are also those who suffer from binge eating disorders, but culture can influence the projection of the symptoms and their perception. An illustration is differences in attitudes toward food, body image, and mental health among various racial and ethnic groups – this may influence how binge eating is seen and treated in communities (Davis et al., 2020).
Furthermore, sexual orientation can be a factor in the suffering of binge eating disorders. During discrimination, LGBTQ+ individuals may have stressors connected to their sexual orientation and gender identity, thus leading to dangerous eating habits (Bray et al. (2022). Cultural norms within the LGBTQ+ community may also cause this, but it influences how we view body image and eating habits a great deal, which makes binge eating disorders in this population less common and harder to treat.
Social-economic classes are another important factor to think of. People from poor socioeconomic status can face problems in seeking help for eating disorders, even for those who get treatment for binge eating. The economic stressors and the limited resources may cause the turnout of eating disorders or the worsening of the situation due to the intersectionality between socioeconomic status and mental health (Hilbert, 2019).
Ethnicity and cultural background can also cause variations in community views regarding food, body image, and mental health. Arriving immigrants may encounter acculturative stress, leading to a deterioration in mental health and an increased risk of abnormal dietary behaviors such as binge eating. (Davis et al., 2020). Norms related to food and ways of eating may differ between countries or ethnic groups, leading to variations in the prevalence and the character of binge eating disorder within a multicultural context.
Cultural differences might cause conflicts between clinicians and people who are affected because of the discrepancy between the norms recognized in different cultures in medical examinations and treatments. For example, some diet-related cultural beliefs and practices, particularly the ways that individuals view food and bodies, could be overlooked or misunderstood by healthcare providers, causing difficulties in the assessment and treatment of patients. In case clinicians are dealing with binge eating disorders, they should be able to do that with cultural sensitivity as well as understanding the individual cultural experiences of their patients (Hilbert, 2019).
Being aware of the cultural aspects of binge eating disorder prevalence among different populations and its outcomes, we can base our research findings. Recent studies indicate that BED occurs in different demographic groups, and no disparities with regard to access to treatment may discriminate between them (Bray et al., 2022). Besides, minority and marginalized individuals may encounter more barriers to getting the necessary treatment for binge eating disorder, which suggests the need for culturally sensitive prevention and intervention methods.
In conclusion, the culturally sensitive approach to bulimia nervosa is aimed at recognizing the variegated population of individuals suffering from this disorder and the cultural impact on its manifestation, definition, and treatment. Through cultural considerations in research, clinical practice, and public health projects, we will be better positioned to understand binge eating disorders in all their diversity and to help individuals help them improve their mental health and well-being.
References
Bray, B., Bray, C., Bradley, R., & Zwickey, H. (2022). Binge eating disorder is a social justice issue: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study of binge eating disorder experts’ opinions. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(10), 6243.
Davis, H. A., Graham, A. K., & Wildes, J. E. (2020). Overview of binge eating disorder. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports, pp. 14, 1–10.
Hilbert, A. (2019). Binge-eating disorder. Psychiatric Clinics, 42(1), 33–43.
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