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Biomedical subjects

Fary M Cachelin

Publications and source records attributed to Fary M Cachelin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Help seeking and barriers to treatment in a community sample of Mexican American and European American women with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined treatment seeking for eating disorders in Mexican American and European American women. METHOD: One hundred forty-five women with eating disorders (76 Mexican American, 69 European American) were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID-IV) and Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). RESULTS: Only 28% of the sample reported having sought treatment for their eating problems and only 17% had received treatment. Both groups were equally likely to believe they have significant eating problems and to want help. However, Mexican Americans were less likely to have sought treatment and, having sought help, were less likely to have been diagnosed or treated. European Americans were more likely to have utilized psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and psychotropic medications, whereas Mexican Americans largely had sought help from general practitioners for weight concern. The two groups endorsed similar barriers to treatment seeking. CONCLUSION: Results support clinical impressions that eating disorders largely go undetected and untreated. Nonspecialists may be likely to fail to detect eating disorders.

Acculturation↗

Binge eating and purging in a multi-ethnic community sample.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to document the frequency of three eating disorder-related behaviors (binge eating; self-induced vomiting; and use of laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills) among a multi-ethnic community sample. METHOD: A questionnaire was administered to 1225 Hispanic, Asian, black, and white women and men. Participants responded to items (based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for eating disorders) about binge eating and purging behavior. RESULTS: Binge eating and purging were more common among women than among men in Hispanic, black, and white subsamples (frequency rates were similar among Asian men and women). Ethnic differences were found in frequency of purging among women (ethnicity was not associated with behavior rates among men). Fewer Asian than Hispanic, black, and white women induced vomiting and used laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills as weight control methods. CONCLUSION: The fact that frequency rates differed as a function of participant sex and ethnicity underscores the importance of considering both of these group variables when examining disordered eating and weight control behaviors.

Adult↗

Factors that influence food amount ratings by white, Hispanic, and Asian samples.

OBJECTIVE: Two studies explored in nonclinical samples variables that may influence meal size assessments. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: In Study 1, the contribution of dietary restraint, weight, depressive symptoms, and gender to ratings on the Food Amount Rating Scale was examined in 153 white women and 121 white men; in Study 2, the contribution of dietary restraint, weight, ethnicity, and ethnic group identification to Food Amount Rating Scale ratings was examined in 67 Asian, 81 Hispanic, and 107 white women. RESULTS: Study 1 indicated that food amounts were rated as larger when rated by male rather than female raters (male rater, mean=62.37, SD=1.14; female rater, mean=59.28, SD=0.89), for female rather than male targets (male target, mean=56.16, SD=0.97; female target, mean=64.87, SD=1.02), and by restrained rather than unrestrained eaters (restrained, mean=63.14, SD=1.11; unrestrained, mean=58.69, SD=0.91). Study 2 indicated that food amounts were rated as larger when rated by restrained eaters (restrained, mean=67.53, SD=1.21; unrestrained, mean=64.99, SD=1.09), Hispanic women (Asian, mean=64.59, SD=1.61; Hispanic, mean=68.71, SD=1.30; white, mean=65.41, SD=1.34), and underweight women (underweight, mean=70.38, SD=1.68; normal weight, mean=64.52, SD=0.93; overweight: mean=64.23, SD=1.64). DISCUSSION: Food amount judgments may be influenced by personal characteristics. Future research should examine whether variation in food amount judgments is related to dieting behavior, disordered eating, or obesity.

Asian People↗

Dieting and its relationship to smoking, acculturation, and family environment in Asian and Hispanic adolescents.

The objective of this article was to examine dieting and its relationship to smoking behaviors and attitudes, acculturation, and family environment in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Participants were 211 adolescent girls and boys: 57% Asian, 16% Hispanic, 27% White. Regular dieting was determined using the Restraint Scale (Herman, 1978). Dependent variables were measured using the Smoking Beliefs and Attitude Questionnaire (Pederson & Lefcoe, 1985), Family Functioning in Adolescence Questionnaire (Roelofse & Middleton, 1985), and Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (Suinn, Rickard-Figurroa, Lew, & Vigil, 1987). Dieting girls, as compared to nondieters, had more favorable attitudes toward smoking, more strongly believed that smoking keeps one from eating, and first experimented with cigarettes at an older age. Chronic dieting was related to reports of poorer family functioning, and Asian dieters were more acculturated than nondieters. For boys, there was no relationship between dieting and smoking, acculturation, or family environment. Smoking prevention programs targeted toward ethnic minority adolescent females need to address the issue of weight concern.

Journal Article↗

Does ethnicity influence body-size preference? A comparison of body image and body size.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is most common in the United States among women of ethnic minority groups (black and Hispanic). Researchers have hypothesized that these subcultures are more accepting of overweight figures. The purpose of this study was to examine body image and body size assessments in a large community sample of men and women. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were 801 women and 428 men: 23% Asian, 45% Hispanic, 17% black, and 15% white. The figure rating scale was used to rate: body dissatisfaction, attractive male and female shapes, acceptable female size, and perceptions of underweight to obese female figures. RESULTS: Controlling for age, education, and body weight, no ethnic differences were found for men. Asian women reported less body dissatisfaction than the other groups. Women were more dissatisfied with their size than men and chose thinner female figures as attractive and acceptable. DISCUSSION: Ethnicity, independent of age, education, and body weight, does not influence preference for female and male shapes or tolerance for obesity.

Adult↗