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Urbanization and eating disorders: a scoping review of studies from 2019 to 2020

Purpose of review This review scoped recent (2019–2020) literature investigating the association between urbanization and eating disorders, and the putative role of urbanization as a direct or indirect risk factor. Recent findings There are few epidemiological studies which investigated adequately direct or indirect association between urban domicile and eating disorders. Findings suggest that urbanization is a complex phenomenon and its effects on eating behaviour are indirect, for example, because of other important social and environmental features, such as the amount of ‘green’ space, ‘Western’ thin idealization, and poverty. The review also supports others indicating an increase of eating disorders in Africa and Asia. The majority of research includes only adolescent and young woman. Summary It does not seem likely that metropolitan dwelling in itself is a major risk factor for developing an eating disorder. However, when accompanied by other sociodemographic effects, there may well be an increase in eating disorder risk. There are opportunities for planners to design cities to be supportive of peoples’ eating and mental health in general. More research investigating moderating and mediating effects on the associations between urban dwelling and eating disorder is needed as well as studies of more sexually and age diverse populations.