Family involvement in eating disorder treatment among Latinas.

Latinos are less likely to seek health care for eating disorders and more likely to drop out of treatment than members of other ethnic groups, highlighting existing challenges to engagement in traditional mental health care. This study explored the role of family in the treatment of adult Latinas with eating disorders through content analysis of family sessions adjunctive to cognitive behavioral therapy. This study yielded insight into the experiences of 10 Latinas with eating disorders (M age = 39.90 years) and 10 relatives (M age = 39.50) from the Promoviendo una Alimentación Saludable trial who were randomly selected to receive six family enhancement sessions. Data from 53 sessions were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Family intervention might serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional treatment by positively influencing social, family, and emotional support for Latinas with eating disorders.

"Las penas con pan duelen menos": The role of food and culture in Latinas with disordered eating behaviors.

This study elucidated the experiences of eighteen Latina adults (mean age = 38.5 years) from "Promoviendo una Alimentación Saludable" Project who received nutritional intervention as part of the clinical trial. Half of the participants were first generation immigrants from Mexico (50%), followed by U.S. born with 16.7%. Remaining nationalities represented were Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, and Venezuela with 33.3% combined. The average duration of living in the U.S. was 11.1 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) at baseline was 36.59 kg/m(2) (SD = 7.72). Based on the DSM-IV, 28% (n = 5) participants were diagnosed with binge-eating disorder, 33% (n = 6) with bulimia nervosa purging type and 39% (n = 7) with eating disorder not otherwise specified. Participants received up to three nutritional sessions; a bilingual dietitian conducted 97.8% of sessions in Spanish. In total, fifty nutritional sessions were included in the qualitative analysis. A three step qualitative analysis was conducted. First, a bilingual research team documented each topic discussed by patients and all interventions conducted by the dietitian. Second, all topics were classified into specific categories and the frequency was documented. Third, a consensus with the dietitian was performed to validate the categories identified by the research team. Six categories (describing eating patterns, emotional distress, Latino culture values, family conflicts associated with disturbed eating behaviors, lack of knowledge of healthy eating, and treatment progress) emerged from patients across all nutritional sessions. Considering the background of immigration and trauma (60%, n = 15) in this sample; the appropriate steps of nutritional intervention appear to be: 1) elucidating the connection between food and emotional distress, 2) providing psychoeducation of healthy eating patterns using the plate method, and 3) developing a meal plan.