Final answer:
The prevalence of eating disorders among ethnic minorities is comparable to Caucasians, while healthcare utilization is lower for ethnic minorities compared to Caucasians. Ethnic minorities often face poorer quality of care and reduced access to healthcare. Systematic inequalities, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors contribute to these health disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Studies utilizing community samples indicate that the prevalence of eating disorders among ethnic minorities is comparable to Caucasians, and that health care utilization among ethnic minorities is lower compared to Caucasians. Research highlights that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa occur in people from many different cultures, but White females from Western societies tend to be the most at-risk population. This is thought to be due to cultural factors such as the portrayal of a thin ideal in media and possibly genetic predispositions. However, even though the prevalence of eating disorders may be similar across ethnic groups, ethnic minorities often receive poorer quality of care and have less access to healthcare, which impacts the health outcomes and mortality rates for diseases, including those related to eating disorders.
Historical and systematic inequalities contribute to these disparities, including socioeconomic status (SES), which is a strong predictor of a person's morbidity and mortality experience. The racial and health disparities in the United States have persisted over time, with certain demographic groups such as African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans facing higher rates of chronic diseases and mortality than White people. Addressing these disparities requires multifaceted efforts to improve health education, health literacy, and to mitigate systemic inequalities in economics and healthcare systems. To better serve all populations, it is essential to overcome medical mistrust and underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in medical research.