Cross-cultural differences in the macronutrient intakes of women with anorexia nervosa in Australia and Singapore

✍ Scribed by Nerissa Li-Wey Soh; Stephen Touyz; Timothy Dobbins; Lois Surgenor; Simon Clarke; Michael Kohn; Ee Lian Lee; Vincent Leow; Elizabeth Rieger; Ken Eng Khean Ung; Garry Walter

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 100 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1072-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/erv.876

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Aim

To compare the macronutrient intakes of women with and without anorexia nervosa (AN) across cultures.

Method

Participants were women with AN (n = 39) and without AN (n = 89) of North European and East Asian backgrounds recruited in Australia and Singapore. Energy and the percentage energy contributed by protein (%protein), fat (%fat) and carbohydrate (%CHO) were assessed from participant's diet histories and analysed in terms of cultural group, acculturation, socio‐economic status (SES) and education level.

Results

AN status was associated with lower energy and higher %CHO. Greater %protein was associated with greater acculturation to Western culture and lower SES, but not AN. Greater %fat was associated with lower SES and lower acculturation in women with AN, but with higher acculturation in controls. Greater %CHO was also associated with higher SES.

Conclusion

The findings may represent Western diets' higher protein and fat contents, ‘Western’ knowledge of weight‐loss diets, and affordability of low fat foods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.