Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of eating disorders has been assumed to be low in the Arab world, due to the alleged absence of the thin ideal. However, the Arab world is undergoing rapid sociocultural changes, and there are reports of an increase of the desire to be thin. This literature review therefore provides point-prevalence of Arabs at high risk for eating disorders, and a comprehensive synthesis of correlates of eating disorder symptoms, eating disorder-related variables and of a high risk for eating disorders.MethodSeveral electronic databases were searched for published, peer-reviewed studies between 1986 and 2019 involving several key terms. From 317 screened studies, 81, mainly cross-sectional, were included. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and meta-analyses was used as guidance and the quality of studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.ResultsEstimates of individuals at high risk for eating disorders ranged from 2 to 54.8%. The eating disorder-related variables identified were desire to be thin, body dissatisfaction, disturbed-, and dieting- eating behavior. Identified correlates were increased affluence, media use, western influences, and obesity. An additional finding was that in some cases eating disorders were expressed somatically rather than psychiatrically.DiscussionIn the Arab world, females were most at risk for eating disorders and eating disorder symptoms. Sociocultural changes gave rise to the thin ideal and the prevalence of obesity, increasing the risk for the development of eating disorder-related variables and eating disorders. The literature on eating disorders in the Arab world suffers from potential limitations due to the use of non-validated assessment tools. Further research is necessary, particularly on the development and validation of a culturally sensitive assessment tool. Improved knowledge is likely to increase the number of people seeking treatment and decrease the stigma of psychotherapy.
Highlights
The prevalence of eating disorders has been assumed to be low in the Arab world, due to the alleged absence of the thin ideal
The literature on eating disorders in the Arab world suffers from potential limitations due to the use of non-validated assessment tools
We aim to provide estimates regarding the point-prevalence of Arabs at high risk for Eating Disorders (ED), with ED symptoms above threshold values for caseness, and to provide a comprehensive synthesis of relevant studies of correlates and ED-related variables
Summary
The prevalence of eating disorders has been assumed to be low in the Arab world, due to the alleged absence of the thin ideal. Eating disorders (EDs) have a significant impact on the well-being of affected individuals [1] This includes comorbid obesity [2], depressive symptoms, anxiety [3] substance abuse, suicide attempts [4], and high rates of mortality and relapse [5]. Since EDs have historically been associated with Caucasian females in developed Western countries with high socio-economic status [6], they have been perceived as culturally bound syndromes [7]. Taking this in consideration most studies regarding EDs have been heavily concentrated in Western countries [8]. From on [10, 11] reports on the thin ideal in the Arab world steadily increased [13,14,15]
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