In this course, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross examines the individual, societal, and historical factors that combine to create a higher incidence of eating disorders in Black women than white women. Racism is explained in the many forms – such as colourism, hair, and body image issues – which can accelerate the risk of eating disorders for women of colour.
About this course
In this course, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross (MD, MPH, CEDS, co-founder of the Institute for Antiracism and Equity) cites multiple statistics to show the higher incidence of binge eating disorders in all minority groups than dominant-culture ones, although they are less frequently diagnosed by clinicians than in white women. Many experiences raise the risk of developing eating disorders in Black women, and Dr. Ross examines these. They include adverse childhood experiences, attachment issues, historical trauma, and racism – not least in the form of colourism and body image ideals/issues.