The Untold Story: Eating Disorders in Asian Communities
In the intricate journey of growth and healing, we all have unique experiences. We learn, we struggle, and we search for solutions within the parameters of our cultures, traditions, and personal circumstances. My journey was no different. It started with a seed - a kernel of realization that my path to recovery must resonate with my life, not just from a clinical standpoint, but also from a cultural one.
Growing up in a Cantonese household, our family meals were interspersed with remarks about body image, delivered casually as a helping of steamed fish or a side of bok choy. The first summer I visited home after a year abroad in high school, I was greeted with enthusiastic family members who, in a lovingly misguided gesture, commented on my weight gain. Such comments are often commonplace in Asian families, a well-intended form of care that paradoxically places the focus on external appearance rather than internal well-being.
That year, my struggle with anorexia nervosa began. Recovery options were there, but something about them seemed unfamiliar, foreign even. The dietary guidelines were filled with food typically eaten by Americans—foods that didn’t always align with my own cultural practices and palate. It felt as if I was attempting to play a western melody with eastern instruments—an endeavor both awkward and unsettling. That’s when the seed started to sprout, and I realized how crucial culturally-relevant resources are in the fight against eating disorders.
I was taught early on about the importance of discipline. It’s a virtue, we are told, but when it comes to eating habits, this virtue can often morph into a vice. Chronic dieting was not only normalized, it was applauded as a testament of self-control—a twisted part of the hustle culture that’s so prevalent in our societies. And, in the absence of a safe space to discuss and dispel these harmful narratives, the cycle seemed bound to continue, feeding my own disorder and no doubt countless others.
There’s also the elephant in the room - our societal emphasis on thinness. Our cultures' representatives, from K-Pop idols to TV and movie stars, seem to have one thing in common: a slender frame. This image has become the blueprint of East Asian beauty, a template that leaves no room for individuality and authenticity, but plenty for self-doubt and harmful comparisons.
This is why I decided to initiate "LEAP for Asians". Our mission is not only to raise awareness about eating disorders in the Asian community but also to offer culturally-relevant resources—resources that take into account our unique cultural practices, family dynamics, and societal norms. We aim to create an environment that encourages healthy relationships with our bodies and ourselves. A space where we can discuss our struggles openly and receive support from those who have walked a similar path.
It's time to untangle the invisible chains that bind us. It's time to challenge the narratives, to fight the stereotypes, to question the 'norms'. The journey to recovery is not about finding ourselves in a societal mold, but about learning to shape the mold around our authentic selves.
Together, let's take this leap. A leap towards understanding, acceptance, and most importantly, healing.
