One size fits all? : examining body dissatisfaction and eating disorder risk in Latina women

Despite high reports of body-image related pathology in Latinas, how traditional cultural factors contribute to body dissatisfaction and eating disorder etiology is unknown. Current conceptualizations of eating disorder etiology, developed from studies on predominantly White women, reflect the Anglo-American experience. Examining the negotiation between Latino and American sociocultural ideals and influences is imperative to understanding culture’s impact on body-image pathology. A hierarchical regression will be utilized where acculturation and cultural values will serve as predictors of body dissatisfaction and eating disorder risk in a sample of Latina college students. Failure to understand culturally-specific Latino influences perpetuates under-identification of EDs and comorbidities as well as inability to develop culturally-competent interventions