Eating Disorders in Lebanon: Directions for Public Health Action.
Research in the field of eating disorders (ED) is limited in the Middle East. The aim of the present study was to profile Lebanese ED outpatients. A mixed-method design was used. Clinicians across Lebanon filled individual questionnaires about their 2013 ED outpatients (n = 104) and participated in focus groups. Results showed that bulimia nervosa was the most prevalent ED (46.1 %) followed by anorexia nervosa (39.4 %) and binge eating (14.4 %). The emerging socio-demographic profile of the Lebanese ED patient was that of a single female young adult of middle to high socio-economic status with severe ED symptoms (amenorrhea, multiple purging behaviors) and depression. Also, there was a general delay in seeking help which made patient recovery more difficult. The present study emphasizes the critical need for a public health approach to ED awareness and could help in developing preventive and remedial educational programs targeting youth in Lebanon and the Middle East.
Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, PO Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon. nadine.zeeni@lau.edu.lb.
Nadine
N
Zeeni
Middle East Eating Disorders Association (MEEDA), Beirut, Lebanon.
Hiba
H
Safieddine
Alice Ramez Chaghouri School of Nursing, Lebanese American University, PO Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon.
Rita
R
Doumit
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Clinical profile; Eating disorders; Middle East; Outpatients; Purging behaviors