This study investigated the differences in disordered eating behaviors and attitudes in Japanese and American college students. The results of a 2X2 Anova revealed a significant nationality difference. American students reported more disordered eating symptoms than Japanese students (p<.01). This may be due to a convergence of biological, social, and dietary factors. Maternal influence may also be an influential factor; the results indicated that American mothers were perceived to display more eating disordered behaviors and attitudes than Japanese mothers (p<.01). In order to evaluate whether self-report response style accounted for the observed difference separate analyses of scores on the high and low socially desirable eating behaviors and attitudes (EAT) items were performed. The results of these analyses paralleled those for the composite EAT, suggesting that differential social desirability responding did not mediate the nationality difference. (Author)