Assessing the prevalence of and factors associated with overweight, obesity, and binge eating as a function of ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with overweight, obesity, and binge eating as a function of ethnicity among a national sample of college students.

METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2010 Healthy Minds Study sample. Participants were 24,396 college students from 26 colleges and universities. This sample included 62 % females and a broad range of ethnic backgrounds; 30 % were overweight, 10 % were obese, and 7 % met criteria the for binge eating.

RESULTS: While African Americans reported the highest prevalence of overweight (49 %) and obesity (24 %), Arab-Americans reported the highest prevalence of binge eating (10 %). The factors associated with weight problems and binge eating differed by ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS: Research is warranted to develop more culturally sensitive interventions to target those ethnic minorities at elevated risk. Further study of binge eating among Arab-Americans is particularly important, as the prevalence of this condition was higher among this group over any other.