Individual and Family Factors in Disordered Eating Patterns of Mexican-American Women

Overview

Journal Am J Health Behav

Date 2021 Dec 31

PMID 34969416

Citations 2

Authors

Becky Marquez

Tanya Benitez

Affiliations

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Abstract

Objective: In this study, we examined the contribution of individual- (acculturation, body mass index, and body size satisfaction) and family- (maternal weight-related messages and disordered eating patterns) level factors in predicting bulimic and dieting behaviors in young Mexican-American women with overweight or obesity.

Methods: We recruited adult Mexican- American mother-daughter dyads from the community. We conducted correlational analysis and hierarchical regression.

Results: Daughters who were less satisfied with their body size reported higher symptoms of bulimic (r = -.34, p < .01) or dieting behavior (r = -.36, p < .01). Daughters who received more positive maternal messages on eating and weight had mothers with lower symptoms of bulimic (r = -.43, p < .01) or dieting behavior (r = -.30, p < .05). Maternal symptoms of bulimic behavior were the strongest predictor of daughters' bulimic behavior (ß = .379, p = .007), and body size satisfaction was the strongest predictor of daughters' dieting behavior (ß = -.372, p = .008) in adjusted models.

Conclusion: Mexican-American women who are less satisfied with their body size and have mothers with elevated symptoms of bulimic behavior are at risk for disordered eating patterns. Intervening at the individual level on body image and family level on maternal modeling of eating behavior may help support healthy weight management behaviors.

Citing Articles

Acculturation and eating disorders: a systematic review.

Song S, Stern C, Deitsch T, Sala M Eat Weight Disord. 2023; 28(1):39.

PMID: 37076614 PMC: 10115679. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-023-01563-2.

Body image as a global mental health concern.

Rodgers R, Laveway K, Campos P, de Carvalho P Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2023; 10:e9.

PMID: 36861019 PMC: 9970735. DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.2.

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