Research
A is for Analysis
2023 American Medical Association Research Challenge
A Critical Analysis of Eating Disorders Among Asian Americans and Actionable Recommendations
Matthew J. Yan BS, BA, Hannah J. Lee BA
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Background: Asian Americans, comprising 6.3% of the US population and the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group, have seen a rising prevalence of eating disorders. However, research on the relationship between Asian Americans and eating disorders remains significantly understudied. Understanding these nuances is crucial due to the vulnerable status of Asian Americans from a social determinants of health perspective. The cultural preference for thin body types in Eastern societies, combined with the influence of K-Pop and Asian media on mainstream American culture, may contribute to increased eating disorders, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia among Asian Americans. Moreover, the lack of Asian American role models and negative racial stereotypes, particularly impacting Asian American males, add to the challenges they face. This study aims to examine the current state of eating disorder research among Asian American populations, identifying reasons for the research gap and shedding light on factors influencing the development and exacerbation of eating disorders in this community.
2023 Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association Region VII Conference
Exploring the Multi-faceted Risk of Eating
Disorders among Asian Americans
Euna Lee (1); Hannah J. Lee BA (2); Matthew J. Yan BS, BA (2)
(1) Williams College (2) David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Background: Approximately 28.8 million Americans experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Historically, eating disorders (ED) have been perceived to predominantly affect white women, but researchers are now discovering that EDs occur across various racial and gender groups. The extent to which sociocultural aspects and culture-specific features can influence the risk of ED has yet to be studied, especially in Asian Americans. Considerably very few studies have examined the gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care of the diverse Asian American populations. Understanding these nuances is critical in addressing the increasing concerns for EDs post COVID-19 as well as developing culture-specific interventions and treatments. Through a literature review, this study focuses specifically on the reasons behind disparities in eating disorder research, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder, among Asian American populations.
21st Annual Innovations in Medical Education Conference
Introducing A-Team Med: Voice of the Asian American Experience
Yan, Matthew J., BS, BA (1); Lee, Hannah J., BA (1); Li, Roy, BS (2); Jeon, Jennifer, BA (3); Euna Lee (4); Bahk, Jason E., MD (1)
(1) David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2) SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (3) Brown University (4) Williams College
Need: The Asian American experience is often an overlooked one in society that is seen but not heard. For example, an NIH study found Asian Americans compose 20% of the permanent workforce, yet only 6% hold senior leadership positions. Additionally, the rise of Asian hate crimes following the COVID-19 pandemic, has perpetuated a series of violence and harmful stereotypes for all Asian Americans. Asian Americans are not a monolith. Now more than ever is it necessary for the diverse voices of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community to be heard. Thus, A-Team Med draws inspiration from narrative medicine and aims to encapsulate the unique power of storytelling. We believe that testimonies and open dialogue are at the core of A-Team Med’s mission towards empowering the next generation of prospective Asian American medical students and youth towards embracing their voice, filling in the blank, and becoming the authors of their own story. A-Team Med’s slogan is “A is for __” Intentionally, left blank for individuals to fill-in their testimony of the Asian American experience, there are infinite words that begin with the letter A and we challenge you to fill in the blank. What does the A mean to you?
2024 Conference on Adolescent Health
School-based Prevention Program in South Korea for Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia
Background: Eating disorder and body dysmorphia are not exclusive to the U.S. but pervade widely among South Korean adolescents. A recent study indicates that nearly 22.5% of South Korean adolescents endorse unhealthy weight control behaviors, such as diet pills, fasting, use of laxatives or diuretics, and vomiting, in 2019. More importantly, body dissatisfaction has been positively associated with suicide ideation among Korean teens, the leading cause of adolescent death in South Korea. Our initiative intends to address this public health phenomenon at Busan Foreign School through a weight-neutral, health-based prevention program.
Hannah J. Lee, BA (1); Matthew J. Yan, BS, BA (1); Euna Lee (2); Carl Brenneman, BS, MA (3); Roy Li, BS (4); Jennifer Jeon, BA (5); Alexander J. Yan (6); Grace Kim (7); Jason Bahk, MD (1); Joshua Tseng, MD, MBA (8); Ohmar Myint, MD, MS (1)
(1) David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2) Williams College (3) Busan Foreign School (4) SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (5) Brown University (6) Boston College (7) University of California, San Diego (8) Chinatown Service Center Health
APAMSA’s 30th Annual National Conference
A-Team Med: A is for Attestation, Leveraging Narrative Medicine to Empower Asian Americans
to be Seen and Heard
Background:
The Asian American experience is often an overlooked one in society that is seen but not heard. For example, an NIH study found Asian Americans compose 20% of the permanent workforce, yet only 6% hold senior leadership positions. Additionally, the rise of Asian hate crimes following the COVID-19 pandemic, has perpetuated a series of violence and harmful stereotypes for all Asian Americans. Asian Americans are not a monolith. Now more than ever is it necessary for the diverse voices of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community to be heard.
PROJECT: A is for Attestation’s aims to interview Asian American physician-leaders practicing in academia, community health centers, and beyond, regarding their career journeys, and experience navigating the proverbial “Bamboo Ceiling.” Leveraging open dialogue, we aim to re-author the AANHPI experience towards empowering the next generation of Asian American adolescents to become the authors of their own story.
Matthew Yan, BS, BA (1); Hannah Lee BA, (1); Euna Lee (2), Roy Li, BS (3); Alexander Yan (4); Jennifer Jeon, BA (5); Amanda Rhee, MD, MS (6); Joshua Tseng, MD, MBA (7); Jason Bahk, MD (1)
(1) David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2) Williams College (3) SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (4) Boston College (5) Brown University (6) Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (7) Chinatown Service Center Health
2024 Association of Medicine and Psychiatry Annual Meeting
Novel Culturally Competent Educational Curriculum for Identifying Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Marginalized Communities of Color: A Pre-Clerkship Training Initiative
Background: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a serious mental health condition characterized by an obsessive focus on perceived flaws in physical appearance, which can lead to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. BDD is underdiagnosed and undertreated in marginalized communities of color due to cultural stigmas, lack of awareness, and limited access to mental health resources. Following COVID-19, the prevalence of BDD and mental health awareness has significantly increased, making it crucial to address this gap in medical education. Current curricula often do not adequately cover these disparities, leading to gaps in knowledge and skills among future healthcare providers5. By developing Bricks specifically focused on identifying BDD in these communities, we aim to fill this critical gap. This project complements existing curricula by providing targeted, culturally sensitive educational resources that promote awareness and understanding of BDD in diverse populations, ultimately improving patient outcomes and fostering health equity.