MEDIA STATEMENT
MORE THAN 50% OF MALAYSIANS SHOW SYMPTOMS OF EATING DISORDERS, STUDY FINDS
[KUALA LUMPUR, April 22, 2022] — The majority of Malaysians are engaging in unhealthy eating behaviours that could increase their risk of eating disorders, according to a new study by a mental health NGO.
In the paper, Estimated Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Malaysia Based on a Diagnostic Screen, Relate Malaysia found that, in a population-based survey of 818 adults, over 50 per cent of them reported symptoms of eating disorders (EDs).
The study is the first population based study on Malaysia to estimate the prevalence of EDs. Led by Dr Chua Sook Ning, it highlights the need to invest in more resources to “understand and manage eating pathology in Malaysia,” adding concerns that, as disordered eating becomes “increasingly common” in Asia, little is known about EDs in Malaysia.
Dr Chua – founder of Relate Malaysia and an expert in EDs – warned that disordered eating is a “public health issue waiting to happen” among Malaysians if little is done to understand the growing trend and support those who suffer from disordered eating.
As a visiting scholar at Harvard’s School of Public Health, Dr Chua advised that the rise in population body weight in the country runs parallel to a rise in weight stigma, “societal fatphobia” and perceived pressures from social media and advertising that leads young people to internalise the “ideal body image.”
She said, “The rising occurrence of disordered eating behaviours and symptoms in Malaysia is extremely worrying. Very little is understood about eating disorders in our country; however, unhelpful attitudes regarding body weight and body shaming, along with external pressures for young people to look a certain way are all contributing factors to people of all genders engaging in potentially dangerous behaviours.”
Eating disorders can include restrictive eating, compulsive eating, or irregular or inflexible eating patterns. Like any many health issue, it’s difficult to pin down the exact cause. Some factors include low self-esteem, poor body image, abuse or trauma, bullying, social pressure to be thin, and stress that arises from expectations to be a high-performer or achiever.
Worryingly, the study suggests that the ideal body image, regardless of gender, can be seen as an “investment in one’s future” that is perceived to increase the likelihood of success in life, much in the same way that people view a good education. According to Dr. Chua, how we understand and treat disordered eating behaviours is key to preventing damaging consequences. She said, “Eating disorders are a class of illness that stands out from other mental illnesses because of the high mortality rate from the many physical issues as a consequences of disordered eating and weight control behaviors.
“Especially in cases of low weight, this can lead to loss of muscle mass including in the heart. Cardiovascular problems are common among people with anorexia, and cardiac arrest accounts for about 30% of deaths among those with anorexia.”
She added, “We often hear about the ideal Body Mass Index (BMI), which people often use to determine whether they’re at their ‘ideal weight’. The problem is, having a weight target without considering what it means to have a healthy body image increases the risk of eating disorders. Obesity prevention programs have actually been shown to actually backfire and increase the risk of such disorders.”
The research study also looked at fasting as a means to lose weight, finding that Malays were more likely to engage in this behaviour compared to Chinese and Indians. Where fasting is motivated by religious or spiritual practices, existing research suggests that this does not increase the risk of EDs; however, such fasting may exacerbate the risk of ED symptoms in those who are already at risk of eating disorders.
Dr Chua said, “Disordered eating behaviours are complex and there are no simple explanations for their occurrence. That said, we are aware of likely contributing factors and as Malaysia continues to experience social, cultural, and other relevant changes, it’s imperative that more is done to understand, fund, and support research and services that can help us prevent and treat the growing problem of disordered eating.”
Citation: 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. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23711
