ABU DHABI // Eating disorders left undiagnosed and therefore untreated are leading to potentially severe and irreversible health problems, experts have warned.
They include stunted growth, abnormally slow heart rate and osteoporosis.
“Puberty often triggers the onset of eating disorders; frequently a teenager starts off with a diet to lose a few kilograms and this spirals into an eating disorder,” said Dr Veena Luthra, a consultant psychiatrist at the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology in Abu Dhabi.
“Traumatic events can also trigger eating disorders. These might include bereavement, being bullied or abused, a divorce in the family or concerns about sexuality.”
Warning signs parents should look for include unexplained weight loss, a change in eating patterns, excessive exercise, frequent vomiting after eating, and young people taking diet pills, laxatives or diuretics.
Anorexia nervosa, a condition in which a patient drastically reduces food intake, and bulimia, in which a patient purges after eating, are the most common eating disorders. They usually affect young people between the ages of 14 and 18.
Binge-eating disorders – associated with obesity – are another worrying problem and often come hand-in-hand with mental health issues, said Dr Luthra.
“This is a major concern because rising obesity is a public health issue in UAE,” said Dr Luthra, who will be addressing eating disorders in UAE adolescents at the Paediatrics Conference during the Arab Health Recruitment and Training Fair in October.
“Eating disorders can be life threatening so parents must seek treatment for their teen. Do not dismiss it as a passing phase and delay treatment.”
Jared Alden of the German Neuroscience Centre in Dubai Healthcare City said teenagers were successfully hiding their condition from parents and teachers.
“I don’t think a lot of the children and young adults who are suffering from eating disorders are seeking treatment,” he said.
“I think children are keeping it a secret and they are able to do so even from close family members.”
The psychologist said eating disorders were not gender specific and could affect both expatriates and Emiratis.
However expats are more likely to spot an eating disorder in a family member.
“They have grown up with this issue being a topic. So they might recognise it more quickly. There is a familiarity with it.”
The health risks of an eating disorder are profound, he said.
“The trouble is because someone is young they don’t immediately show up. Some conditions won’t even appear until their late forties, but it has a very big effect.”
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders estimates that 11 per cent of high-school pupils have been found to have an eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Eating disorders, especially anorexia, can have many health consequences, said Ruba Rizk, a consultant physician in adolescent medicine at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.
These include electrolyte imbalance, abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure. It can also effect a girl’s menstrual cycle. Eating disorders are also linked to depression and anxiety.
However most of these health conditions are treatable if caught early, said Dr Rizk, who will also be addressing the October conference.
She describes eating disorders as “a disease of adolescence” and once classed as the “middle class syndrome”.
“But now we are seeing it across all races, all societies, all social economic classes. It is no longer restricted.
“The problem here is catching it early. As a physician we can just monitor the weight and if we see a drop in weight we are supposed to ask some leading questions and find out about the child’s eating habits, if they have any mental disorder issues.
“But really you have to rely on the parents.”
However, juggling busy working lives has meant family interaction has reduced.
“There is no one really keeping track of how much food a teenager is eating and whether this child is dieting or not or any kind of purging/binging behaviour.”
jbell@thenational.ae
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
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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
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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How to avoid crypto fraud
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- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
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