Latinas and African American women are commonly perceived as having little to no
cases of eating disorders due to strong, cultural backgrounds - including family, a
supposed preference for larger, more curvaceous (curves) figures, and an overall
lack of importance regarding one's physical appearances.(7) In fact, disordered
eating, like anorexia and bulimia nervosa, have even been referred to as the,
¡°white girl's disease.¡±(8) However, most studies of eating disorders involving women of
color, often contradict that myth. (7) The following story of one Latina woman's
experience with anorexia, is quite appropriate to the topic of myths and
generalizations.
"After Karen [Carpenter] died and all the media coverage, I went to the doctor to tell him that I also had anorexia. I was severely underweight and my skin had a yellow undertone. After examining me he told me, ¡®You don't have anorexia, only white women can get that disease.' It was 10 years until I went to another doctor." (8)
To hear more stories from victims with eating disorders, including women of color, visit: http://www.somethingfishy.org/
