ABSTRACT
This chapter presents evidence to support the argument that a gap exists in investigating issues specific to Black women with eating disorders. We posit that Black clinicians and practitioners treating Black women with eating disorders assess for, examine, and analyze critical issues that non-Black professionals do not typically assess for, whether because such issues and their potential impact are not readily apparent or because they are uncomfortable to broach. The issues that Black practitioners examine can be prominent and meaningful in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Black women with eating disorders. This chapter details relevant research to date as well as presenting recent findings specifically focused on Black women with eating disorders. We found that while most of the clinician and practitioner respondents do not avoid discussing topics uncomfortable to them or their clients, there are differences in avoidance itself and topics avoided by race of the practitioner. Future research actions steps are suggested.
