Diseases of affluence? A systematic review of the literature on socioeconomic diversity in eating disorders

Abstract

The stereotype that eating disorders (ED) primarily present among individuals of higher socioeconomic status (SES) has long persisted in popular and professional perception. This belief has likely contributed to disparities in ED identification and treatment, particularly among those of lower SES backgrounds. The objective of this article was to systematically review the literature investigating socioeconomic diversity in distinct ED diagnoses. A PRISMA search was conducted to identify studies that empirically assessed the association between ED pathology and indicators of SES via PubMed and PsycINFO. This search generated 13,538 articles, of which 62 articles published between 1973 and August 2020 met criteria for inclusion in the review. Included studies were primarily cross-sectional and covered diagnoses of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED), with quality ratings of poor, fair, and good. Results are examined in the context of studies' sampling methods, operationalization of SES, and statistical analyses. There is no consistent pattern of evidence to suggest a relationship between high SES and ED. Instead, all ED present across a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Limitations included the predominance of cross-sectional study designs and poor to fair quality ratings. Future research should include adequately powered, community-based longitudinal studies that examine how sociocultural factors, including SES, intersect to influence ED risk and treatment outcome. The existing data suggest an urgent need to prioritize affordable and accessible ED treatment.

Keywords: Anorexia; Binge eating; Bulimia; Eating disorder; Socioeconomic status; Systematic review.