Migration background, eating disorder symptoms and healthcare service utilisation: findings from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort

Abstract

BackgroundFrom a global perspective, eating disorders are increasingly common, probably because of societal transformation and improved detection. However, research on the impact of migration on the development of eating disorders is scarce, and previously reported results are conflicting.AimsTo explore if eating disorder symptom prevalence varies according to birth region, parents’ birth region and neighbourhood characteristics, and analyse if the observed patterns match the likelihood of being in specialist treatment.MethodThis study uses data from a large population-based health survey (N=47 662) among adults in Stockholm, Sweden. A general linear model for complex samples, including adjustment for gender and age, was used to explore self-reported eating disorder symptoms. Odds ratios were calculated for individual symptoms.ResultsEating disorder symptoms are substantially more common in individuals born abroad, especially for migrants from a non-European country. This holds true for all surveyed symptoms, including restrictive eating (odds ratio 5.5, 95% CI 4.5–6.7), compensatory vomiting (odds ratio 6.1, 95% CI 4.6–8.0), loss-of-control eating (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 2.3–3.1) and preoccupation with food (odds ratio 2.3, 95% CI 1.9–2.8). Likewise, symptoms are more common in individuals with both parents born abroad and individuals living in districts with a high percentage of migrant residents. A gap exists between district-level symptom scores and the likelihood of being in specialist eating disorder treatment.ConclusionsThese findings call for oversight of current outreach strategies, and highlight the need for efforts to reduce stigma and increase eating disorder symptom recognition in broader groups.