EATING DISORDERS AROUND THE WORLD
In South Africa, as urbanization continues, the current trickle of cases of eating disorders that have been reported "will turn into a flood". The tremendous migration of people from rural areas to urban settings brought about a clash of new, and old sociocultural trends. In example, there are many efforts to get black women to lose weight to prevent heart disease and diabetes, they are very resistent to doing so because in the black community, weight loss is associated with HIV and AIDS. Says Dr. Christopher P. Szabo. He has reported that he has seen very few cases of eating disorders among blacks. "The stigma that eating disorders are a 'white mans disease' could prevent young black Africans from seeking help.
Whereas in Fiji, television has had a tremendous, and often negative impact on the society. Dr. Becker said that in a recent study, more than 3/4 wanted to look like television characters.
In Rhode Island, it was discovered that body image concerns are quite common and quite disturbing among men. Katherine A. Phillips, MD says that Body Dysmorphic Disorder is being increasingly reported by men. BDD can co-exist with Anorexia Nervosa, and other eating disorders.