Eating disorders in British Asians.

OBJECTIVE

There has been a clinical impression that British Asians present with eating disorders less commonly than expected. The study examines the numbers and characteristics of Asians presenting to the Leicestershire Eating Disorders Service with a catchment area which includes a substantial proportion of people with a background in the Indian subcontinent.

METHOD

Case note review and comparison of rates of presentation of people with and without such a background.

RESULTS

Twenty-one eating-disordered Asians were seen in 10 years. Their clinical characteristics resembled the rest of the referrals. However, the rate of presentation of people from the Asian population was about one fourth of that of the white population.

DISCUSSION

Asian women with eating disorders were referred less often. This might be because of a lower prevalence in this population. However, it seems likely there are variable and sometimes high threshold filters to secondary care for such women.