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

• Published in: European eating disorders review Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 427 - 435
• Main Authors: Soh, Nerissa Li-Wey, Touyz, Stephen, Dobbins, Timothy, Surgenor, Lois, Clarke, Simon, Kohn, Michael, Lee, Ee Lian, Leow, Vincent, Rieger, Elizabeth, Ung, Ken Eng Khean, Walter, Garry
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2008; John Wiley and Sons, Limited
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adolescent; Adult; Anorexia; anorexia nervosa; Anorexia Nervosa - classification; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Australia; Body Mass Index; Child; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Diet; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dietary Fats; Dietary Proteins; Educational Status; Energy Intake; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Food; Humans; macronutrient profile; Nutrients; Singapore; Socioeconomic Factors; Weight control; Womens health; Young Adult; Australia; Singapore
• ISSN: 1072-4133; 1099-0968
• DOI: 10.1002/erv.876

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.