How Vulnerable is Your Child to Eating Disorders?

There is an unfortunate trend of a rise in eating disorders among the youth around the world. Dubai is no exception. In a recent article in the Khaleej Times, it was reported that children in Dubai, some as young as eight years old, are being treated for eating disorders.¹ Observational data such as this reinforce research conducted by experts over the years. For example, a study using data from the Global Burden of Disease showed that the prevalence rate of eating disorders increased from 300.73 to 354.72 per 100,000 population between 1990 and 2021.²

While eating disorders are rare relative to the population, rates are increasing. It is important to pay attention because of the seriousness of their effects. Eating disorders can harm the organs, and it has been linked with depression and self-harm. In extreme cases, it can even result in death. The family must be vigilant in protecting each other from this condition.

Understanding Eating Disorders

An eating disorder (ED) is an illness that affects a person’s eating behaviors. It is specifically defined as “a disturbance in eating habits that result from either excessive or insufficient food intake.”³ In other words, an ED goes beyond being worried about maintaining a certain diet or achieving a weight goal. It is a pattern of behavior that has negative consequences for a person’s mental and physical health.

There are six main types. The three most common are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.⁴ People with anorexia nervosa restrict or avoid food because of a distorted view of their bodies. Even when they are overweight, they may view themselves are being overweight. On the other hand, bulimia nervosa is characterized by an unhealthy compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain. People with this condition binge-eat and then force themselves to vomit, use laxatives, or exercise excessively. Lastly, people with binge-eating disorder eat large amounts of food for a certain time. Another common type of ED is the avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. With this, people limit the kind and amount of food they eat because of anxiety or dislike of a food’s characteristics.

There are two less common and more recently identified kinds of eating disorders. Pica is characterized by the craving of non-food items such as chalk, soil, or hair, while rumination disorder entails the regurgitation of food and eating it again.

Sometimes, there are behaviors that affect an individual but do not fit exactly into the ED categories. For example, the behavior does meet the threshold when it comes to frequency. These are called other specified feeding and eating disorder.⁵

Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

There are many factors that are at play, which can cause someone to develop ED. Some of the studied factors are genetics, gastrointestinal microbiota and autoimmune reactions, childhood and early adolescent exposures, personality traits and comorbid mental health conditions, gender, socio-economic status, ethnic minority, body image and social influence, and elite sports.⁶

There are also some factors that are unique to the culture. In the case of Dubai, the region has been experiencing rapid socio-economic shifts since the 1990s. One of the results of this change is that society is more exposed to different types of cultures. For example, Western countries tend to prefer thinner bodies.⁷ Arabs, on the other hand, traditionally prefer a more rounded body type for women.⁸ However, recent research shows that Middle Eastern adolescent females are idealizing thin bodies more in recent years.⁹ Developments such as these contribute to the rise of eating disorders in the region. Bulimia nervosa, for instance, is shown to be associated with culture.¹⁰

In 2017, a team of researchers examined the prevalence of eating disorders among young Emirati women aged 14-19. In one of the sections, the researchers identified the possible determinants of an ED. It identified that dieting within the family was the highest determinant of an ED. Influence of media, peers, and family, especially from sisters and mothers, also ranked high.¹¹

Warning Signs to Watch Out For

It is not always easy to determine if someone is struggling with an ED. However, there are some signs that parents can take note of. There can be physical changes in the body, such as weight loss, wearing baggy clothing to hide their bodies, and missed periods for women.

Patterns of behavior concerning food or weight can also provide clues. For example, if the child lies about mealtimes or their weight can be a cause of concern. Other signs to watch out for are eating food unusually fast or slowly, or going to the bathroom immediately after eating. These behaviors do not necessarily mean that the child has ED, but parents or guardians should investigate further.  

What to Do If Eating Disorders are Suspected

An ED should be treated as soon as possible. If a child is showing warning signs of it, it is best to address it right away before it causes more harm. There is no one correct way to approach the situation, but there are some helpful points to explore.

Begin an honest and non-judgmental conversation about eating disorders.

Someone with an ED can also become withdrawn or moody. It can be quite difficult to initiate a conversation, especially with something as serious as this topic. However, talking is necessary to get a clearer picture of the conversation. It is important for the parent or the guardian to stay calm and non-confrontational. Instead of accusing, begin the conversation with questions to get the child to open up.

The focus of the conversation should be on the child. Avoid trying to find common ground by discussing your own problems or other people’s situations. Also, do not feel hurt or defensive if they say something or act in a way that you disagree with. It is quite possible for the child to respond with anger or denial. In fact, it is best to prepare for this scenario.

If you are unsure how to approach a conversation, get advice from a medical professional on how to speak with the child.

Support the child during recovery.

Finding out if a child has an ED is the first step to recovery. Provide professional help to best navigate the situation. As for the family, they can be part of the journey by learning more about this illness. Learn from books, reputable sites, or from medical practitioners to understand what the child is going through and how to help.

Be vocal in your support of the person going through an ED. Even if they do not seem receptive, assure them of your love and presence. You can also build up their confidence by praising them for their other interests. Just be mindful not to comment on their appearance or weight, since a lot of the pressure that comes from an ED stems from how their body looks.

Make mealtimes less intimidating.

A person with ED can find mealtimes particularly distressing. If the child is already in treatment, work with the medical professional to come up with strategies to help them cope during mealtimes. Some of the techniques that can be incorporated are coordinating meal plans and briefing the family to refrain from talking about portion sizes or calories.

It can be tempting to focus on the child while eating, but this might pressure the child more. Instead, enjoy the meal as a shared experience. If mealtimes do not go as planned, stay positive and try again.

Get support for yourself.

It is not just the person with ED who is on a healing journey. Friends and family can also be affected. They can even be traumatized by the experience of worrying about the child’s mental and physical health. Other children, in particular, need to be checked on. They might feel overwhelmed and stressed. They can also feel neglected because of their sibling’s situation.

The whole family can benefit from the support of a mental health professional. You can also explore connecting with support groups that specifically cater to families of people with an ED. The bottom line is this: you cannot pour from an empty cup. You can only support others if you are mentally and physically well yourself.

Eating Disorder Treatments

Treating an ED is like putting a puzzle together. The pieces have to fit. Treatments take into consideration the type of ED, the severity of symptoms, and the overall experience of the patient. This is why the first step of addressing an ED is always seeing a primary healthcare professional or mental health practitioner. They often make referrals to create a team that will address the issues facing the child with an ED.

Treatment plans address the mental and physical aspects of an ED. Health problems such as electrolyte imbalances, lack of nutrition, and dental issues need to be treated and monitored. At the same time, the child’s relationship with food and appearances is addressed. Psychotherapy with someone trained to handle eating disorders is often part of the plan. Some of the types of therapy known to help a person with an ED are cognitive behavioral therapy, family-based treatment, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Medication such as antidepressants can also be prescribed.

Finally, treatment plans usually include nutrition education. The immediate goal is to correct any nutritional deficiencies caused by the ED. In the long run, the child should be educated to regain healthy eating habits.

Conclusion: Firm Against the Rising Tide of Eating Disorders

Numerous sources of data indicate that eating disorders are on the rise. However, one does not have to stand helpless against them. According to a 2023 paper published in the Journal of Pediatrics, families play a key role in keeping children healthy. The study states, “the foundation for the emergence of an eating disorder can take root even within the first year of life, and the guidance provided by parents and family can significantly influence the onset or absence of such disorders.”¹² Research in Dubai also reinforces this line of thought. One of the highest determinants of eating disorders among Emirati women is dieting within the family.

Vulnerability to eating disorders depends on various factors, and no child is immune. However, parents and other family members can be positive influences by modeling good behavior and educating the child on the importance of nutrition. If the child does show signs of an ED, the family can also help them get treatment and support them as they get better.

Cited Sources:

1. Gonzales, E. (2025, August 12). Eating disorders in UAE: Parents worry as kids as young as 8 refuse to eat. Khaleej Times. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from Khaleej Times website: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/health/eating-disorder-rise-uae-kids-teens?_refresh=true ↩︎
2. Liu, K., Gao, R., Kuang, H., E, R., Zhang, C., & Guo, X. (2025). Global, regional, and national burdens of eating disorder in adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2021: A trend analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 388, 119596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.119596 ↩︎
3. Rikani A.A., Choudhry Z., Choudhry A.M., Ikram H., Asghar M.W., Kajal D., Waheed A., Mobassarah N.J. A critique of the literature on aetiology of eating disorders. Ann. Neurosci. 2013;20:157–161. doi: 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.200409 ↩︎
4. American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. New York American Psychiatric Press Inc.; New York, NY, USA: 2013. DSM-5. ↩︎
5. Riesco N, Agüera Z, Granero R, Jiménez-Murcia S, Menchón JM, Fernández-Aranda F. Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED): Clinical heterogeneity and cognitive-behavioral therapy outcome. Eur Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;54:109-116. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.08.001. Epub 2018 Sep 5. PMID: 30193141. ↩︎
6. Barakat, S., McLean, S.A., Bryant, E. et al. Risk factors for eating disorders: findings from a rapid review. J Eat Disord 11, 8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00717-4 ↩︎
7. Rasheed, P. (1998). Perception of body weight and self-reported eating and exercise behaviour among obese and non-obese women in Saudi Arabia. Public Health, 112(6), 409–414. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ph.1900479 ↩︎
8. Abou-Saleh M.T., Younis Y., Karim L. Anorexia nervosa in an Arab culture. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 1998;23:207–212. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199803)23:2<207::AID-EAT11>3.0.CO;2-X. ↩︎
9. Afifi-Soweid R.A., Najem Kteily M.B., Shediac-Rizkallah M.C. Preoccupation with weight and disordered eating behaviors of entering students at a university in Lebanon. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 2002;32:52–57. doi: 10.1002/eat.10037 ↩︎
10. Keel P.K., Klump K.L. Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology. Psychol. Bull. 2003;129:747–769. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.747. ↩︎
11. Kazim, A. A., Almarzooqi, M. S., & Karavetia, M. (2017). The prevalence and determinants of eating disorders among Emirati female students aged 14–19 years in Ajman, UAE. Journal of Food & Nutritional Disorders, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9323.1000222 ↩︎
12. Pastore, M., et al. (2023). Alarming increase of eating disorders in children and adolescents. The Journal of Pediatrics, 263, 113733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113733 ↩︎