ABU DHABI // What started as a drastic attempt to lose weight for her school dance quickly turned into "Mary's" obsession.
At 16 years old she was desperate to slim down for the event and decided to purge herself after meals.
What was meant to be a one-time thing, however, turned into a tragic cycle and before Mary knew it she was out of control.
An average weight for her age, Mary had led an active life and was a member of her high school's athletics team. She was never overweight or even chubby.
But growing up in Los Angeles and Lebanon, she said she was constantly surrounded by images and talk of the ideal body.
"In Lebanon all they talked about was weight. I always heard it around me," Mary said.
Her habit started off as a secret. "But soon my mum caught me because I was constantly going to the bathroom.
"I would turn on the tap to make it seem like I was in the shower, but she didn't believe that I would be showering eight or nine times a day."
Mary's mother took her to a counsellor but the teen did not want help.
"I remember trying to trick the counsellor and make her think everything was OK, because I was afraid if they found out they would stop me," she said.
When Mary left home for university, things became worse. Having more independence made it easier to hide her secret and she was surrounded by 10 girlfriends who all purged after they ate.
"I felt that if I could control everything it would all be OK," she said. "I would drive my day around where I could go to throw up."
When she arrived in Abu Dhabi for work, things spun further out of control.
With tears in her eyes, Mary, now 24, described how she sank into body dysmorphic disorder, imagining all sorts of physical defects that needed to be fixed.
"I'd look in the mirror and see things that were not there, like love handles and cellulite, and it freaked me out," she said. "I studied psychology so I knew something was wrong with me and that it was body dysmorphia."
Seeking help in Abu Dhabi proved a challenge, until she came across a new support programme.
"Back at home you'll find community centres, treatment facilities and support groups especially for people with eating disorders," Mary said. "Here, seeing a private psychologist is really the only way of help."
Being able to talk about her problem has given her a sense of relief, she says.
"I know this going to be a constant struggle and that I may never be cured, but I can get better," Mary said.
mismail@thenational.ae
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
How to donate
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
