One of the first media outlet that have covered this topic about the problem of Eating Disorders In Ramadan is the Islam and Eating Disorders Website in 2013. Secondly the first ever western media coverage was done in 2015 with sites such as BBC, Buzzfeed, and Independent UK. This showcases the tragic lack of media coverage on this important topic. The cause for this huge information gap might be due to business reasons alone. For example, maybe the traffic that these big media sites got from these articles were not as good as a catchy headline title such as “Thousands of birds take over Australian Street”. Whatever the reason is it does not excuse the fact that the Information Gap is there. Even worse is that Muslim Organizations have only started publishing articles and covering it in national news this year! Amaliah.com dedicated to amplifying the voices of Muslim women has just spoken about this issue. Why has it taken this long? When it should have really been talked about decades ago. Muslim Media Sites have only started to talk about this topic when Western Media Sites started to talk about this topic. The answer to why this such big delay remains to be unknown, however it does not have to stay that way. There’ve been brave Muslim Warriors struggling with eating disorders who’ve come out since 2015 and have spoken about their struggles with eating disorders and Ramadan fasting.
Dear Readers,
Please find below an article written by Justin Vera from Canada on why has it taken so long for people to talk about eating disorders in Muslim communities? With millions of people being affected by eating disorders worldwide, it’s important to address this issue in Muslim communities and talk about the impacts. The topic of eating disorders has been extremely difficult to openly discuss over the years and sadly many people view this mental illness with a negative stigma. With eating disorders becoming increasingly prevalent, it’s imperative that in our communities we move mental health to the forefront of conversation topics and have transparent discussions about how we are truly feeling and eradicating stigma surrounding around mental health . Since 2012, we’ve been the first website talking about Eating Disorders in Muslim World, and it was a hard journey, especially when we first published the first ever article on Ramadan and Eating disorders and how no organization Muslim or non-Muslim was talking about it, getting a verdict from Imam 8 years ago was even more difficult. In 2015, BBC was the first to talk about Ramadan fasting and eating disorders. sadly, it has taken Muslims and Muslim organizations years to talk about this important topic. Here, we stress the importance of creating widespread awareness and effectively communicating the secrecy surrounding this illness and overcoming the barriers many people face in getting help.
Ramadan & Eating Disorders | Why Has It Taken So
Long for People to Talk About It?
Author: Justin Vera/ Canada
Eating disorders can do tremendous damage to someone’s health if left untreated. People with disorders often don’t get the enough nutrients that they need for their bodies to stay healthy and working properly. Therefore, leading to organ failures (ex: kidney failure, and heart failure) and most likely death. If you are one of these people who have an eating disorder and have not contacted professional help yet, then please get in touch with one immediately to prevent tragic consequences.
However, in this article, we will be shining some light on the problem that is people suffering with Eating Disorders while in Ramadan and how there are barely any resources / coverage that has been made on it.
Huge Information Gap
One of the first media outlet that have covered this topic about the problem of Eating Disorders In Ramadan is the Islam and Eating Disorders Website in 2013. Secondly the first ever western media coverage was done in 2015 with sites such as BBC, Buzzfeed, and Independent UK. This showcases the tragic lack of media coverage on this important topic. The cause for this huge information gap might be due to business reasons alone. For example, maybe the traffic that these big media sites got from these articles were not as good as a catchy headline title such as “Thousands of birds take over Australian Street”. Whatever the reason is it does not excuse the fact that the Information Gap is there. Even worse is that Muslim Organizations have only started publishing articles and covering it in national news this year! Amaliah.com dedicated to amplifying the voices of Muslim women has just spoken about this issue.
On May 2, 2021 @LdnRamadanRadio and @BritishIMA talked about Mental Health & Eating Disorders during Ramadan! FARAJ MENTAL HEALTH, Mental health literacy & advocacy from Ontario spoke about this issue on April 19, 2021 . The Lantern Initiative Nonprofit Organization, Muslim-led social enterprise/CIC, Mental Health workshops & seminars also addressed this issue in April 2021.
This is a good news, we need more awareness around eating disorders, this issue has been neglected for a long time.
Why has it taken this long?
When it should have really been talked about decades ago. Muslim Media Sites have only started to talk about this topic when Western Media Sites started to talk about this topic. The answer to why this such big delay remains to be unknown, however it does not have to stay that way. There’ve been brave Muslim Warriors struggling with eating disorders who’ve come out since 2015 and have spoken about their struggles with eating disorders and Ramadan fasting.
now with some organizations talking about this mental illness , we hope the increased awareness will help to erase the stigma around eating disorders.
We have a very long way to go, more professional support and treatment is necessary to set people suffering from eating disorders on a path to recovery.
Unfortunately, very few of those affected receive treatment because of the stigma attached to mental health. Untreated, eating disorders can contribute to compromised living, higher medical expenses, poorer performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities and increased risk of suicide.
What Can You Do If You Have an Eating Disorder?
Having an Eating Disorder during Ramadan can be difficult and can sometimes feel conflicting. However, any medical professional will always advise against fasting at any circumstances especially in your recovery. The risks it brings is simply too much and you also risk the possibility of a relapse. Your well-being and recovery should always come first.
Here are helpful ways to manage your Eating Disorders during Ramadan. These steps are from @natashacounselling from Instagram and we have just summarized it. For further information please check out her post.
- Practice Self Compassion! – Realize that not fasting for Ramadan does not make you any less Muslim and not letting anyone make you think that otherwise. Try to find other ways to contribute such as reflecting on your behaviours and trying to change them if necessary.
- Be Mindful of Your Triggers! – Being mindful of your triggers is essential to anyone trying to recover from any addiction or disorders. Listing them all down and formulating a plan so that they don’t come up in the first place is a good step to take.
- Ask for Support! – Know that you are not alone and that there are many people going through the same struggles as you are. Do not be afraid to seek professional help or seeking for communities that share the same interests and struggles.
- Practice Gratitude! – The word “Alhamdulillah” signifies gratitude in our everyday lives and gratitude is also a form of worship.
- Create a Plan! – Creating a plan with a professional or even a friend can be beneficial to succeeding. Since as Ramadan progresses, it can get tough and hard to deal with. However, with your formulated plan you will never lose track of where you are headed.
- Check These Instagram Accounts! – Here are some accounts that have content that will help you in Ramadan. Make sure to take notes from each bit of it and to implement it into your own plan as well.
What is Being Done?
Now that we have explained the issue of the Huge Information Gap that exist. What is being done about this? Here is some good news, more and more people are talking about this topic on Big Social Media Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. In addition, more widespread media coverage is being done by Muslim Organizations as well as Western Media Outlets.
Platforms such as the BBC, Buzzfeed, Independent UK, Instagram, and Facebook are all drastically helping the cause and spreading more awareness about this topic, and you can help too! Whether you are struggling with an Eating Disorder or you know someone who is. Spreading awareness about this is still one of the best things you can do.
Spreading awareness is very simple to do. Simply sharing any post that talks about Ramadan and Eating Disorders such as this article or posts from the Instagram Accounts listed above will help a lot and you will be doing a favour for thousands of Muslims around the world.
Conclusion
People struggling with Eating Disorders in Ramadan are put in tremendous risk of relapsing or possible even death. The Huge Information Gap has been such a big problem since it really should have been covered decades ago especially when we got so many sights such as Leila Shah Pahlavi The Iranian Princess Died of this illness. There needs to be more effort exerted into spreading awareness and to be mindful that Eating Disorders is a big concern and happens not just in Ramadan but all year round. Not to mention that big gatherings such as birthdays, social gatherings, and other festivals can be such a challenge to people suffering from this illness. Aljazeera has covered this topic very broadly however it does not go into much detail. What we need is to go more on detail on this problem, and we can all do that together by spreading awareness.
Sources:
https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/generalinformation/why-are-eating-disorders-dangerous/
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/health-consequences
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-33479309
https://www.buzzfeed.com/husseinkesvani/this-is-what-its-like-to-recover-from-an-eating-disorder-dur
