Who experiences “America the beautiful”?: Ethnicity moderating the effect of acculturation on body image and risks for eating disorders among immigrant women

As body ideals are culturally constructed, how do ethnicity and acculturation affect body attitudes and risks for eating disorders (ED)? The present cross-sectional study explored this question among 353 women including samples of seldom-investigated ethnic groups. Assessments were made on self and body image, risks for ED and multiple measures of acculturation. Among first generation immigrants, Chinese had the lowest and Afro-Caribbeans the highest self and body image but ethnicity alone had no effect on disordered eating. Acculturation resulted in less healthy attitudes among the Eastern-Europeans but more healthy attitudes among the Chinese. In comparing immigrants with later generations, European-descended women persisted in less healthy attitudes while African-descended women held more positive body attitudes and lower risk for eating pathology. Implications for generational and ethnically sensitive body-related intervention programs are discussed.