Representation, Equity, & Healing: Confronting Racial Disparities in Eating Disorder Care
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of Black individuals and communities. Black History Month is also a time to acknowledge and reflect on health inequities this population faces when seeking care, specifically in regard to mental health and eating disorder treatment.
As Black History Month and Eating Disorder Awareness Week often coincide, it is important to highlight that while eating disorders do not discriminate, access to care historically has.
Eating disorders affect all races, ethnicities, ages, body sizes, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, the stereotype that eating disorders only affect young, thin, affluent white women has negatively impacted research, diagnoses, and treatment options for decades, resulting in Black individuals often being overlooked in eating disorder treatment.
Research shows Black individuals experience eating disorders at rates similar to or higher than White individuals, but are less likely to receive a diagnosis or treatment, with binge-eating disorder being the most prevalent eating disorder among Black adolescents and adults.
But why? There are several factors that contribute to this disparity:
Cultural stigma and the belief that eating disorders are exclusive to white individuals
Fear and shame of not being understood by community members and health care professionals
Bias, underdiagnosis, and lack of cultural competency by providers
Structural barriers, such as limited insurance coverage or access to specialty care
Underrepresentation of the Black community in research
These factors contribute to gaps in care, creating real, negative consequences in regard to early intervention, access to care, and long-term recovery.
Mental health does not exist in a vacuum. Experiences of racism, discrimination, and historical trauma contribute to chronic stress for Black individuals, which can increase vulnerability to disordered eating. Pressure to constantly excel and disprove stereotypes can foster perfectionism, a risk factor for eating disorders. The expectation of constant strength can also make vulnerability feel unsafe.
When individuals do not see themselves reflected in conversations about eating disorders, feelings of shame and isolation can arise or deepen. Representation matters! Fostering safe and affirming spaces where vulnerability is welcomed is essential for healing.
Addressing disparities in eating disorder treatment cannot only be through awareness. It requires action. Equitable, inclusive care includes:
Recognizing diverse presentations of eating disorders
Challenging biases in assessment and diagnosis
Incorporating cultural context into treatment planning
Acknowledging the impact of racism and racial stress
Providing trauma-informed care
Expanding access to treatment
Healing requires safety, representation, and equity. At Chrysalis Center, we are committed to inclusive, culturally competent, trauma-informed care, and to creating a space where Black clients feel seen, heard, and supported, this month and always.