Do You Labubu?
Fur or against? However you feel about these fuzzy little critters, one thing's for sure… fashion's gone delulu for Labubus. Not sure where to wear them? Our June 2025 issue offers some serious styling inspiration…
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Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Why body image dissatisfaction peaks during summer
For the past two years, Sarah*, a 39-year-old executive assistant at a professional service firm, has been actively unlearning the harsh body image standards she once accepted. 'I grew up at the peak of thin culture in the 90s and 00s in the US,' she said. 'So there's not a fad diet I haven't tried to lose weight.' But as she got older, when after her extreme dieting patterns and preoccupation with her body led her to seek professional help, she came to realise there was nothing wrong with her body at all. She'd simply been chasing beauty trends. 'First thin was in, then a more curvy shape became popular, and now it's all about being fit and lean. I got sick of trying to force my body to meet impossible standards. So I went to therapy where I was diagnosed with body dysmorphia and I'm learning how to manage my body image dissatisfaction,' she added. By her account, Sarah was making real progress. But every summer, like clockwork, when her Instagram feed floods with influencers pushing 'summer body' makeovers, she feels herself slipping back into old habits; comparing, criticising, and questioning how far she's really come. 'It's not just on social media, and it's not just me,' explained the Dubai-resident. 'It's all my friends can talk about too. If they could just lose five kilos, they say, they'd finally feel good in their skin.' 'It's really hard not to internalise that. I know better, but being constantly bombarded with messages saying you have to look a certain way, it's hard not to feel like your worth still depends on being smaller, fitter, more toned.' Sarah's experience isn't unique. In fact, it echoes a broader pattern — one that researchers say intensifies with the seasons. A recent study by the Global Digital Wellbeing Program (Sync), part of the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture in Saudi Arabia, analysed over 12 million Twitter/X posts and identified clear seasonal patterns in body image dissatisfaction. Drawing on data from 1,534 users in the UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand between 2020 and 2023, the study found that dissatisfaction consistently peaked during the summer months in both hemispheres. 'This work points to a predictable recurring seasonal rhythm in how people feel about their bodies, in a large part amplified by social media platforms,' said lead author Dr Justin Thomas. 'These findings might apply to the Gulf if we consider that for some residents, summer also equals vacation time. It might even be that for some Gulf residents, there is also a winter spike during the months of October-February, in that this is the beach season here as the temperature is more tolerable.' The study has been peer-reviewed and will be presented at this year's British Psychological Society annual conference (Cyber Psychology section). It was led by Dr Justin Thomas and co-authored by Alex Wells, Rana Samad, and Yasmin Al Jedawi, researchers at The Digital Wellbeing Program (Sync) at the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra); and Dr Dahlia Al Juboori (Johns Hopkins University), and Timothy Regan (Uniformed Services University). It represents one of the most comprehensive investigations into seasonal body image dissatisfaction to date. On how this type of research appies to the Gulf, Dr Thomas said: 'Further research is required to explore how seasonality might impact body image in climates like the UAE and in places where modesty in dress remains a well-respected social norm.' To that point, Sarah, a practising Muslim who wears the hijab, argued that no woman is immune to the pressure. Beauty ideals, she says, find other ways to reach you. 'Just because I [dress modestly] doesn't mean I'm not affected,' said Sarah. 'The pressure just shifts. It's less about showing skin and more about having the 'right' body underneath. You still feel like you're being measured against a standard, even if no one sees it.' 'There are other times of the year — like Eid or before the wedding season — that the algorithm pushes unhelpful weight loss content and it really affects me negatively.' According to Dr Al Juboori, senior research assistant at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of the study, Sarah's experience further contextualises the study's findings. Holidays that revolve around food or appearance-focused traditions are peak periods for heightened body image concerns. 'We observe a 'perfect storm' where seasonal shifts intensify exposure to idealised body images through media and peer interactions,' she explains. Because body image dissatisfaction is a known risk factor for eating disorders — the mental health condition with the highest mortality rate — it's crucial for clinicians to recognise these patterns and adjust their interventions accordingly. 'Clinicians in multicultural regions like the Gulf should consider the local cultural calendar and climate when designing interventions that are both emotionally resonant and contextually relevant,' she continued. 'Approaches such as media literacy training, cognitive restructuring, and guided discussions around upward social comparisons can help individuals build resilience against these pressures.' 'Social media literacy is especially crucial, as passive consumption of appearance-focused content has been shown to increase BID (body image disorder) via indirect comparison mechanisms.' The study concludes that public health campaigns targeting body image and eating disorders might be most effective if timed to mitigate these high-risk periods. 'Therapy helped me a lot,' Sarah said. 'It taught me to understand that healing isn't a straight line. I can work through the root of my body image issues and feel OK, but that doesn't mean I won't get triggered again — by ads, by the noise around how women 'should' look, especially at certain times of the year. At those times, I practise being more mindful and more critical of the content I consume. And I've learned some helpful tools to maintain resilience.' It's a work in progress, she admits, but one that's rooted in self-compassion, not perfection. 'I just want women, and men, to know there's no one 'right' way to look. I'm still learning that, even if I slip back into old patterns sometimes.'
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Thunder, Pacers open battle in search of first NBA title
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the finals since 2000. Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday when the teams square off in Game 1 in Oklahoma City. "I haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that I'm in the finals," Thunder third-year star Jalen Williams said. "... It's definitely a blessing that we're here and I try not to get too caught up in it because we still have a job to do." The teams are tied together through Paul George. The Pacers' and Thunder's trades of George helped chart their path to these finals. First, in July 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. In February 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis as part of a package that brought them Tyrese Haliburton -- a cornerstone piece to this run. Oklahoma City's haul from its own George trade has been even more impactful to its current roster. After two All-Star seasons with the Thunder, George asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City acquired not only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's NBA leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, but also the draft pick that was used to select Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the Thunder's biggest offensive weapon -- he's averaging 31.6 points in Oklahoma City's 12 playoff wins -- but also their overall tone-setter. "Just has an 'I'm-gonna-get-it-done' mentality," Williams said. "I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the team." While the Thunder have seemingly been destined to reach the finals, going 68-14 in the regular season to win the Western Conference going away, Indiana's path has been much less straightforward. The Pacers were under .500 as late as early January before turning things around and finishing as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. "We started rocky but we just stayed steady and kept being ourselves and we just kept getting better," Indiana's Pascal Siakam said. In the playoffs, though, Indiana has been plenty dominant, beating the Bucks in five games, top-seed Cleveland in five games, and the Knicks in six to advance to their first finals since Reggie Miller starred for the franchise. The Thunder swept the two meetings during the regular season, the most recent a 132-111 victory in Oklahoma City on March 29. Much like it did during the regular season, the Thunder's defense has set the tone. Oklahoma City's 104.7 defensive rating -- points allowed per 100 possessions -- is tops in the NBA during the playoffs. The Pacers have shown plenty of offensive firepower, with a 117.7 offensive rating in 16 playoff games -- behind only Cleveland's 122.6 and ahead of Oklahoma City's 115.9.. "There's no shortcuts to beating this team," Haliburton said of the Thunder. Indiana had an adventurous trip to Oklahoma City. The Pacers' plane had to stop in Tulsa, Okla., due to storms in the Oklahoma City area, though it finally was able to land Tuesday night.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
From US army to UAE-based athlete: How resident trains for world's toughest cold-water triathlons
A lifetime ago, Matthew Tourville marched in presidential ceremonies, beating the snare drum with military precision. Today, he's more likely to be found dodging jellyfish blooms in the icy Atlantic, scaling Scottish mountains in a storm, or running 100km through the rocky slopes of Jebel Jais. "I started with the US military when I was 19,' said the 54-year-old staff sergeant, who is now an extreme endurance athlete, and leadership trainer for the US Army National Guard. "My first enlistment was in 1991, and I was actually a drummer for the president at the White House. We did all the high-level ceremonies, arrivals, inaugurations... I met all kinds of presidents." Tourville eventually traded formal ceremonies for physical training, becoming a master fitness trainer in the army and, later, a triathlon coach. What began with a dare from a colleague turned into an obsession that has spanned decades and taken him to some of the most remote and unforgiving race locations in the world. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. "I did my first triathlon at 29," he said. "One of the guys I worked with kept trying to get me into it. I finally did it and loved it. I wish I'd gotten into it sooner.' Since then, he has completed more than 100 triathlons, five full Ironman races, about 30 half Ironmans, and over 25 standalone marathons. But more recently, it's the extreme triathlon circuit that has captivated him: unsupported races held in harsh conditions, where racers provide their own aid and support. From Vermont to the UAE Tourville moved to the UAE with his fiancee in 2018. While many would find it implausible to train for sub-zero Scottish swims in the Gulf's blistering heat, he's found ways to make it work. 'On June 14, I'm doing Celtman again. It's a full Ironman-distance triathlon in the Highlands of Scotland," he said. "To train, I do cold plunges every day in 9°C or 10°C water. No wetsuit. Full immersion, including the head, to get used to the cold. And I'm riding five to six hours in the UAE heat to build overall resilience." Despite the sweltering temperatures, Tourville uses Abu Dhabi's sand dunes, jetties, and rocky coastlines to mimic the challenging terrain of extreme races. "When I run in the sand, it replicates the squishiness of the bogs. And I run on bricks or stone jetties with cracks, to mimic the loose, uneven ground of trail runs." It's a stark contrast to Celtman's cold winds, mountain climbs, and open-water swim through a jellyfish bloom. "Imagine a swimming pool of tapioca balls the size of small beach balls — that's what it feels like swimming through jellyfish," he said. "They were pink and white. The bloom was a football field wide. You can't go around it — you swim through." Wearing neoprene gloves, socks, and a full wetsuit, Tourville said he escaped stings by pushing through fast. "Some people are more sensitive. I think if you stop and have a conversation with a jellyfish, you're probably going to get stung." Last year, he completed Celtman but missed the mountain cut-off by 15 minutes due to illness. Still, he ran the full distance back to the finish line, completing 16 hours of racing. "I was shivering when BBC interviewed me in transition. That was me dancing in the wetsuit — I was just trying to feel my feet again. They were numb." Tourville's passion for extreme racing truly ignited when he supported a friend at the Himalaya XTri. "My buddy Andy called and said, 'My support runner dropped out; want to come to the Himalayas in four weeks?' I said, 'Sure, what the heck.'" The experience was surreal. "Most of the marathon was in the dark. We went up to 4,000 metres and back. There was a thunderstorm, and we ran through the clouds lit by a full moon. We could see lightning from above the clouds. It was stunning. If it wasn't a race, I would've sat down and stayed there." Back in the UAE, he keeps pushing limits. In January this year, he completed the Goat 100km mountain race — one of the UAE's most technical ultra-races, despite not having trained fully. "I wanted to see if I could finish something there was a good chance I wouldn't. It took me 34 hours, no sleep. I made the final cut-off by 10 minutes." He had stayed behind to help another runner unfamiliar with overnight racing. "I stayed with him till the checkpoint. It slowed me down, but it was worth it." A grandmother's resilience For Tourville, endurance is as much about mental grit as physical preparation, which he feeds off his grandmother, Jean Nadeau-Tourville. "She's 94, lives alone in Vermont with one leg, totally independent. No excuses. She's the toughest person I know. Every time I go back for duty, I stay with her. She's my mental reference point in every race." As a certified life coach and leadership trainer, Tourville brings this mindset to his clients. "I always say: if you're not extreme, you're ordinary. Who wants ordinary? If you're an artist, be extreme in your art. If you love your family, be extreme about that. Don't coast." In addition to coaching triathletes, he mentors soldiers preparing for leadership roles in the US Army National Guard. He's also an advocate for daily physical movement and wellness. "You should be doing some form of exercise every day for the rest of your life," he said. "And if you're over 50, you need to be lifting heavy." "Cold plunges, heat adaptation, nutrition, mindfulness - it's all connected. I believe in hormesis, putting the body through controlled stress to build resilience. It's not just for athletes. It's for everyone." And that's the mindset he'll be taking with him to Scotland this month, for his third and most determined attempt at Celtman. "This one is special," he said. "My grandmother's ancestry is Scottish, from the Highlands. Her maiden name was Cameron. So it feels like I'm bringing a piece of her with me to the race.' What's next? Tourville's race map reads like a travel journal of extremes. 'All over the US and then Europe, of course — France, Turkey, Egypt, New Zealand,' he said. 'I did five races in New Zealand in 30 days. I drove both islands. That was amazing.' His next big ambition is to complete the entire XTri World Tour, including the famed Norseman in Norway, Swissman, and PatagoniaMan in Chile. 'That's the goal; racing from one corner of the world to another,' he said. 'There may even be one coming closer to here someday.' And beyond that? 'There's a seven-day stage race in Mongolia I've got my eye on. It's outside the extreme triathlon world, but still something I'd love to do,' he concluded.
