From Crisis to Cure: Advancing Public Health Solutions for Eating Disorders in Malaysia

Eating disorders are a significant health concern in Malaysia, with over 50% of Malaysians reporting symptoms consistent with eating disorders.

The shift in dietary patterns from fresh and unprocessed foods to high-calorie and highly processed food products has contributed to the increased prevalence. Despite the high costs of eating disorders, they are often overlooked in public health and undertreated by healthcare providers.

Relate Malaysia is committed to developing innovative, effective, and implementable public health solutions for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

We aim to achieve this through public awareness and education, advocating for policy reform, and providing support and assistance to people who experience eating disorders. Innovative approaches are needed to respond to the increased demand for services caused by the pandemic.

A decisive shift towards a public health approach to prevent eating disorders is imperative, demanding an urgent call to action for health professionals from all fields. The treatment of eating disorders must be personalised, addressing the unique needs of each individual, and encompass a comprehensive range of interventions, such as individual, group, and family psychotherapy, meticulous medical care and monitoring, as well as expert nutritional guidance.

Our work:

Talks

Key Publications

Austin, A., De Silva, U., Ilesanmi, C., Likitabhorn, T., Miller, I., Sousa Fialho, M. D. L., Austin, S. B., Caldwell, B., Chew, C. S. E., Chua, S. N., Dooley-Hash, S., Downs, J., El Khazen Hadati, C., Herpertz-Dahlmann, B., Lampert, J., Latzer, Y., Machado, P. P. P., Maguire, S., Malik, M., Moser, C. M., … Richmond, T. K. (2023). International consensus on patient-centred outcomes in eating disorders. The Lancet Psychiatry, 10(12), 966–973. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00265-1 (Link)
Chua, S.N., Craddock, N., Rodtanaporn, W., Or, F., & Austin, S.B. (2023). Social media, traditional media, and other body image influences and disordered eating and cosmetic procedures in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Body Image, 45, 265-27 (Link)
Chua, S.N., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E.E., Austin, S.B., Wilfley, D.E., & Taylor, C.B. (2022). Estimated prevalence of eating disorders in Malaysia based on a diagnostic screen. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 55, 763-775. (Link)

Media appearance

Resources

If you are looking for more information on eating disorders, clinical treatment or support for an eating disorder, or advocacy for policy change, please use any of the following resources:

National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED) at University of North Carolina
NCEED’s website provides eating disorders resources for both health care providers and the public including how to get help and treatment options.
Website: https://www.nceedus.org/

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.
Website: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Recovery Record
Recovery Record is a smart eating disorder recovery app that fits into life and links with your treatment team to help achieve lasting recovery. The app, which has been evaluated in clinical trials, is available to use in connection with a treatment team.
Website: https://www.recoveryrecord.com/

Our collaborators