While Nicole’s statement is similar to my thoughts and the thoughts of many others, it just isn’t true. “[B]lack women were as likely as white women to report binge eating or vomiting…and were more likely to report fasting and the abuse of laxatives or diuretics [an agent that increases the flow of urine],” states Ruth H. Striegel-Moore, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, in a study she conducted with more than 7,000 black and white women in Boston, MA and Connecticut.

Adapted from Alejandra Mavroski Creative Commons Attribution License

And, it’s not just black women and girls. Catherine M. Shisslak, Ph.D., professor of Family and Community Medicine at the UA College of Medicine, says, “A growing body of research indicates that minority females exhibit many of the same abnormal eating behaviors [like binge eating and purging] as white females.”

The research is new and we don’t have exact numbers yet, but more studies do prove that girls of color are suffering from eating disorders. And in some extreme cases, an eating disorder can even lead to death, like in the case of Kaelyn Carson—a 20-year-old, African-American girl from Comstock Park, MI, who at 5 feet 8 inches weighed 79 pounds. Kaelyn died of complications from anorexia nervosa.

“A lot of girls forget that just because black girls are supposed to be ‘thick,’ that doesn’t mean that they can’t get an eating disorder,” says India Davis, 15, of West Chester, PA. 

In African-American and Latino urban communities, it is attractive to be “thick,” which means not too thin and not too big, but a nice, full size. Or at least that used to be the look we all wanted. But with more girls of color getting face time in mainstream films, TV shows, music videos and ad campaigns, the ideal of beauty is changing in minority communities. Now, black and Latina girls in the media look just like their thin white counterparts; they just have darker skin. Being “thick” isn’t as desirable as it once was.

I heard that Beyoncé, who had a great shape, just lost 20 pounds to be in the movie Dreamgirls. Now, she looks like a stick. And is it me or does J-Lo’s booty seem less bodacious now that she’s become a fashion and beauty icon? Fitting into mainstream culture has its price, I guess.

Asian Girls Aren’t Immune Either

“My aunt says that Asian-Americans have become a little more ‘Americanized’ with their size,” says India. India’s aunt hasn’t researched this, but she’s got a point. 

In a study of Korean Americans, the World Health Organization found that the amount of time a person has resided in the United States is “strongly associated with higher body mass index.” (Body mass index is the measurement of fat and muscle in the body.) Asian-American girls can become just as “thick,” if not downright overweight and obese, on a steady diet of processed and fatty American food. As a result, Asian-American girls may feel pressure to lose weight, which can easily lead to an eating disorder.

Dr. Thomas Robinson, professor of pediatrics at Stanford School of Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, found that the leanest 25 percent of a group of Asian-American sixth- and seventh-grade girls reported more dissatisfaction with their bodies than even white girls. But societal pressure to be thin starts early for all girls, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Eating Disorders Don’t Discriminate

Eating disorders can be developed by anyone. With so much shame surrounding the topic and disbelief that eating disorders could exist in minority communities, it’s no wonder girls of color don’t seek out support and treatment more often. But help is available: A great site to get info about eating disorders is www.something-fishy.com. The site provides support and answers to many questions and concerns. And click here to visit our Body Image section.

It would be great if we could learn to accept our unique beauty, so that no girl ever has to feel so ashamed and dissatisfied with her body that she starves herself, over-exercises, abuses laxatives or binges and vomits.

I know broadcasting a very personal struggle with something like an eating disorder is hard, but the stereotype that this is only a white girl’s problem prevents girls of color from coming forward and talking about the issue.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can educate ourselves about the issue and learn the signs of an eating disorder. Then we must break the silence, and start talking about this problem before it’s too late.

Editors’ Note: If you are a girl of color struggling with an eating disorder and want to share your story, click here to talk to us.