ABSTRACT
Objectives of review. This review encompasses new epidemiologic and ethnographic data linking ethnicity, culture and socioeconomic factors to risk for eating disorders in selected papers published between 2003 and early 2005. Experimental and observational studies investigating the relation of specific social environmental influences such as mass media and family and peer environment on risk are also reviewed.
Summary of recent findings. Several recent studies suggest that prevalence across ethnic groups in the US may be similar, although several studies find disparities in prevalence. Epidemiologic studies suggest that eating disorders may have increasingly global distribution. Empirically supported models for pathogenesis of eating disorders continue to emphasize the causal role of social pressures to be thin as well as influence of mass media, and peer and family environment.
Future directions. A number of substantial methodologic limitations continue to pose challenges to interpretation of how sociocultural processes moderate etiologic pathways for eating disorders. Broader use of qualitative approaches is advocated to refine and reframe some of the research questions linking sociocultural processes to risk.
