Black People CAN Have an Eating Disorder Too
*This article was originally published on June 2, 2019 in the “Redefining Wellness: The Ultimate Diet Free Guide for Teens and Families” e-book*
365 days. One year. That’s how long it took before I met with an African American client at my job. I remember this number so clearly because it was also my one year work anniversary. 365 days. How did a full year go by before I met with a Black woman? Is it because Black people do not struggle with mental illness? False. Or is it because Black people do not have eating disorders? Untrue. Those are just a few of the myths that have circulated amongst the Black community. However, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population; yet only one-quarter of African Americans seek mental health care compared to 40% of Whites. So why is there such a huge discrepancy between the amount of African Americans struggling with mental illnesses and those seeking help? Is there a way to bridge the gap?
There is a ubiquitous silence in African American households, as it pertains to mental health, which unfortunately advances the notion and stigma that mental illness is not a problem in the Black community. As a mental health counselor, I spent the first year of graduate school explaining the purpose of my degree to my family and the second year explaining why it is important. When I began my work at an eating disorder treatment center, I was astounded by the number of family members who would ask about my career and would always respond to me, “Black people don’t have that problem.” However, as certain as they were that this was true, they were mistaken. The problem is we do, but there’s a proclivity to dismiss or minimize our issues. No one is talking about it, therefore it does not exist.
I would be remiss if I did not talk about the role that the media plays in all of this as well. In general, people of color are poorly represented in eating disorder films. It is typical to see the leading role played by a white woman of low body weight, which also perpetuates the idea that eating disorders come in one body size. However, results of a 2011 study indicated “African-American teenage girls report a stronger tendency towards bulimic behavior than White girls do” (Goeree et al., 2011, p. 2-3). The problem is, those are not the people represented in the media, magazines, and books.
Lastly, according to NAMI, one of the reasons African Americans are unable to access mental health services is because of a lack of cultural competence by health professionals. This is also supported by a study cited by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) on their website. According to Gordon et al. (2006), clinicians were asked to identify if a woman’s eating behavior was problematic. Forty-four percent of clinicians identified the White woman’s behavior as problematic, while only 17% identified the Black woman’s behavior as problematic. The study also found that clinicians were less likely to recommend that the Black woman receive professional help.
So What’s the Solution?
We have to start talking about mental health more in the Black community. Growing up, I didn’t know about therapy. It was never talked about in my household. I beseech you, parents and guardians, to talk with your children about mental health. Depression exists. Anxiety exists. Eating disorders exist. Mental illnesses exist in African Americans. So when your young one tells you that they think they might have a problem, believe them. The worst thing for them to do would be to suffer in silence. Please direct them to a professional.
To my professionals in the field, this is an area in which multicultural competence is paramount. We cannot expect to successfully treat people of color if we are not willing to listen to people of color. According to NAMI, African Americans are continuously negatively impacted by prejudice and discrimination in the health care system. This has to change. Be willing to educate yourself, advocate, and most importantly listen.
We must ensure that all communities have equitable access to resources (i.e. clinics, programs, and access to mental health professionals) for supporting their mental health and wellness. Our profession has done an excellent job of promoting the importance of mental health. However, as more people become aware of the importance of mental health in their everyday lives it would be a shame if they, after having increased their awareness, found that they don’t actually have fair access to resources that would aid them. No matter how aware any individual is, they will not be able to get the proper help unless we make it our goal and mission to help ALL communities to the best of our ability. We’ve normalized conversations about this important subject, now let’s normalize access to the solutions.
To the media, diversity is so important. Race, gender, social class, and body size are just a few of the many important factors to consider when we make movies, write books, and tell stories about people with eating disorders. It is important that we portray a well-rounded picture of eating disorders because the white girl of low body weight is not inclusive of the entire population that is struggling.
To people of color, there is a lack of representation in the field of mental health. We need more people of color who are passionate about tackling this issue to join the field. The lack of representation in the field is a factor of the stigma and a result of the stigma. It’s time to break the cycle.
Lastly, to Black men and women who have a disordered relationship with food, to those struggling with body image and self-esteem, to those who restrict, binge, purge and everything in between, remember, you CAN have an eating disorder too. It’s okay to seek help and I strongly encourage that you do so.
References
Goeree, M.S., Ham, J.C., Iorio, D. (2011). Race, social class, and bulimia nervosa.
Gordon, K. H., Brattole, M.M., Wingate, L. R., & Joiner, T. E. (2006). The Impact of Client
Race on Clinician Detection of Eating Disorders. Behavior Therapy,37(4), 319-325. doi:10.1016/j. beth.2005.12.002
National Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.). African American Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www. nami.org/find-support/diverse-communities/african-americans
National Eating Disorders Association (n.d.). People of Color and Eating Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/people-color-and-eating-disorders
