Over the years, eating disorders among the women has significantly increased. This has been associated with their perception with regard to desire for thinness and social pressures in the society. However, eating disorders among the black women are much lower, as Jaquelyn et al (2007) indicates, compared to the while women. Indeed, few studies have been conducted on this topic and major discrepancies still exist in the related literature. It is in this respect that this paper seeks to explore eating disorders among the black women in terms of their prevalence in the society and the possible push factors.
Using specific disorders to explore the problem, the paper seeks to establish the necessary recommendations that can assist in addressing these disorders. Anorexia nervosa (AN) Jaquelyn et al (2007), agree with previous researches that AN is indeed uncommon to the African American women. However, even with the low rate of prevalence among the black women, the onset of the disorder in much earlier during the mid adolescents compared to the Caribbean women of the late adolescent and the white women.
It is from this consideration that the situation has become a major concern to the medical fraternity. Due to this early onset, taking into consideration that most of the clinicians are indeed not accustomed to treating it at this age, the disorder poses a major threat to the American black women. The reason for the later onset of the disorder is however not very clear, as Jaquelyn et al indicate, there is need for further research (2007). Bilumia nervosa (BN) Unlike AN, Blumia nervosa is common to both ethnic groups with lifetime prevalence of about 0.
4% for the black women. Jaquelyn et al point out that with the onset age being between 19. 44-19. 7 years, the previously held believe that black women are less prone to BN is indeed fading away. Arguably, due to the old perception, it is much easy to under diagnose the disorder which may have contributed to its fast rising levels. It is suggested that with time, the black women are becoming accustomed to the culture in America which has resulted to their overall higher levels of dissatisfaction with their body images and thus the BN development.