Eating attitudes and body image of asian and caucasian college women

Very few studies have investigated eating disorders among immigrants to the United States. The purpose of this study was to compare eating attitudes and behaviors, fear of fat, and body image in Asian and Caucasian women. Eating attitude and fear of fat were assessed with validated instruments, and body size perception was assessed with body mass index silhouettes. Both groups identified a similar, underweight body silhouette as the “ideal,” and both groups overestimated actual body size. Our results suggest that Asians in the United States have similar eating attitudes and behaviors and body dissatisfaction but a greater fear of fat than Caucasians, indicating a need for eating disorder awareness programs targeted to female Asian immigrants.