Eating disorders in immigrants: Two case reports

The case studies illustrate the complex interaction of individual, familial, and sociocultural factors associated with the development of anorexia nervosa and bulimia in a population not previously considered to be at risk.

Abstract

The incidence of eating disorders has been highest among Caucasian American women of middle to upper middle social classes. Observations of anorexia nervosa and bulimia in two Eastern European immigrants to the United States are described. These cases illustrate the influence of immigration and acculturation on the adolescent and highlight their particular vulnerability to acculturation pressures of the new society. The case studies illustrate the complex interaction of individual, familial, and sociocultural factors associated with the development of anorexia nervosa and bulimia in a population not previously considered to be at risk. Consideration is given to the potential susceptibility of female immigrants in the United States to the pervasive messages emphasizing slimness and attractiveness as vehicles to acceptance and success in American culture.