Latest news with #dietician
Khaleej Times
15 hours ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Throwing food, counting calories: Eating disorders on the rise in UAE kids as young as 8
At first, Filipino expat Myrna Gomez didn't understand why her 10-year-old daughter suddenly changed her eating habits. "She doesn't eat much anymore, even when I cook her favourite meals. When she comes home from school, her food is mostly untouched," she said. She now believes the change was triggered by what she considered harmless, lighthearted comments by herself as well as other family members. Expressing her 'deep regret' over the remarks, the 40-year-old Dubai resident said she is determined to support her daughter's recovery, adding that they have already consulted a dietician for guidance. A similar struggle is faced by A.K., a Jordanian mother, whose 11-year-old son has adopted restrictive eating habits. 'My son refuses to eat more than 1,000 calories a day," she said, adding that he bought a food scale that shows how many calories are in each food item. "We're not sure what started it but, one day last summer, after returning from a camp, he just announced he was going to start eating healthier," she said. At first, the parents were supportive because it seemed to be a positive change. But now, they are concerned. "He is so strict with his eating that he gets irritable at times," AK said. "He checks the mirror almost every day to see if his stomach looks smaller, but he's so young. It's okay not to have abs or a flat stomach at his age." Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Her pre-adolescent son does not think so, however. "He won't touch the lunch I pack for school — usually mansaf or falafel," the 36-year-old manager said. 'He used to eat enough to stay healthy but now limits himself to just fruits, yoghurt, and three boiled eggs. Even during our family baking Sundays, which is our sweet treat tradition and bonding time, he has stopped participating," the Abu Dhabi resident added. Filipino resident Carla Suarez said she only learned about her 12-year-old daughter's eating issues after a teacher noticed her throwing away food at school. 'After two days of noticing she wasn't eating, the teacher reached out to me. When I asked my daughter, she didn't want to talk about it,' the Dubai-based expat said. According to her, her daughter has reduced her diet to just bananas, grapes, and steamed chicken, avoiding other foods 'because they contain more fat'. "It started after Christmas and New Year, when she went on vacation in the Philippines. We were jokingly telling her that she gained weight. Even her friends were teasing her too, but it all seemed like just for fun. We didn't know she was actually taking it seriously," said the Dubai mum. Within a few months, Carla said, her daughter lost "a lot of weight". "Suddenly, her cheeks were sunken and her arms got thinner. She looked like she got sick, but she really just wanted to fit into her old clothes, and she looked happy that she had lost weight." 'As young as eight years old' Healthcare professionals around the world are observing a troubling trend of more children and adolescents being diagnosed with eating disorders in recent years. A study by the European Paediatric Association, published in the Journal of Paediatrics in December 2023, found that eating disorders among children and teens have steadily increased over the past 20 years. Data from 1999 to 2022 estimated that 22.36 per cent of children and adolescents worldwide now exhibit disordered eating behaviours. In the UK, the London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image reported a 128 per cent increase in hospital admissions among boys and young men between 2015-2016 and 2020-2021. Hospitalisations for children and teens with eating disorders rose by 35 per cent in 2022 alone. In the US, healthcare visits related to eating disorders among those under 17 more than doubled from 2018 to 2022. Dr Salman Kareem, psychiatry specialist at Aster Clinic Dubai, confirmed Dubai is not exempt from this trend. "We're seeing cases as young as 8-9 years old, but the peak remains 12-17 years. The early teens, especially 11 to 14-year-olds, are the most vulnerable. These younger kids might start as picky eaters or suddenly refusing foods they previously enjoyed. Parents often dismiss this as a phase until it worsens.' He also pointed out a shift in gender patterns: 'While eating disorders traditionally affected more females, we're seeing a rise in cases among males as well.' Salman also highlighted a rise in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (Arfid), particularly among younger children. '(Unlike anorexia), Arfid isn't about wanting to be thin. Children with Arfid avoid foods because of texture, smell, taste, or fear of choking, often eating only 5 to 10 specific foods. This can lead to serious weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Anorexia and bulimia remain prevalent among teens.' What's driving this surge? Experts point to a combination of different factors. Salman noted that the rise in cases is linked to social media influence, pandemic-related stress, and increased body image pressures. Adele Repas, a nutritional therapist based in Dubai, echoed this, stressing the powerful role of social media. 'Social media creates immense pressure. With filters and curated images showing only certain angles, young people get bombarded with unrealistic standards of beauty. Makeup can change appearances drastically, but kids often don't see the difference." Adele also emphasised the psychological aspect of eating disorders. 'Many children feel controlled at home — sometimes by overprotective parents who mean well. Food becomes a way for them to reclaim control. Eating disorders are complex mental health issues." Advice for parents Salman emphasised the importance of a coordinated team effort involving nutritionists, pediatricians, and mental health specialists to address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of the disorder. Meanwhile, Adele advised that the most important step is to get professional help. "For severe cases, I always recommend psychological support alongside nutritional therapy to help rebuild a healthy relationship with food through mindful eating rather than dieting or weight focus," Repas said. "Kids often confide more in psychologists or dietitians than their parents because they hide their struggles and sometimes lie. Keeping the relationship strong means staying on your child's team, keeping conversations open, and setting a good example," she added. Meanwhile, Joanne Proctor, a Dubai-based holistic nutritionist, said: 'Parents must be mindful of their words around children. Pre-teens and teens absorb everything — they are like sponges. Even jokes about weight or appearance can deeply impact their self-esteem. Negative self-talk, even when directed at the parents themselves, sends the message that it's okay to talk about yourself unkindly, and children internalise that.' 'If parents constantly say, 'I'm so fat,' or 'I look ugly,' children start seeing themselves through the same harsh lens. Small imperfections get magnified, fuelling insecurities," she added. Dealing with eating disorders Salman explained that treating adolescents with eating disorders can be especially complex, particularly when underlying mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are involved. He noted that what makes these cases difficult is the interplay between physical health risks and psychological barriers to recovery. However, he noted that successful interventions are possible through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. "Family-Based Treatment (FBT) has proven especially effective for adolescents, as it involves parents temporarily taking control of their child's eating habits while supporting the child in rebuilding a healthy relationship with food," he explained. "Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) tailored for eating disorders helps patients identify and reframe harmful thought patterns — for example, the belief that 'eating this cookie means I have no self-control," he added.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Free diver Tara Rawson sets female Australian distance record on single breath
Tara Rawson was captivated when she first saw someone free diving at the Rowley Shoals, 260 kilometres west of Broome, off Western Australia's northern coast. Now the dietician and yoga teacher has left the Kimberley so she can travel and train at dive sites around the world, and is working remotely from a temporary base in Egypt. The 31-year-old is pushing her boundaries and recently made the deepest free dive for an Australian female — a staggering 82 metres. And all on just one breath. "You need to be able to relax to dive at such depths," the former Broome resident said from Indonesia, where she was competing. "If you're holding tension, you're using more oxygen and you're more likely to have issues." Ms Rawson was underwater for two minutes and 45 seconds to complete the 82-metre dive, wearing fins. In free immersion dives, with no fin assistance, she can be underwater for over three minutes. Ms Rawson said she loved being able to spend more time underwater. "It's such a cool experience." The former Kimberley resident had her first taste of free diving on a scuba diving trip to the Rowley Shoals. Ms Rawson was captivated by a staff member from the charter boat who was free diving near the seabed. "She just looked so majestic … so peaceful and graceful as she was cruising around," she said. "I was in awe of her." She set about learning to free dive herself. "I really trust in my physical abilities and trust that the set-up is a safe place to dive," Ms Rawson said. "It allows the whole [body] system to soften and it becomes quite an enjoyable experience." Ms Rawson set up the Kimberley Free Diving Club in 2022 with Broome dive enthusiast Graham Makereth. It has attracted interest from spearfishers and snorkellers, and has about 140 members. "It has some special challenges, but we have this wonderful deep trench [off Broome] that's been carved by the current," Mr Makereth said. "It's a fantastic place to free dive." He said the purpose of the club was to safely introduce people to free diving off Broome, using local knowledge of big tides — and sharks. "We have to be careful with bull sharks and tiger sharks, but all the other sharks, which we regularly see, are just part of being in the water," Mr Makereth said. Mr Makereth, who is a trained free-diving instructor with many years' experience, said a "dive response" slowed the heart and increased blood flow to the brain. "You learn techniques to keep the air in the mouth and then use that air to equalise with," he said. Sessions at the local swimming pool are part of the deliberately slow process of learning how to free dive. "You have to acclimatise very slowly … you've got to own a depth," Mr Makereth said. Ms Rawson holds three Australian national records in separate disciplines of free diving. The records were ratified following the Manado Depth Competition in Indonesia in August and the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA) Asian Freediving Cup in the Philippines in June. Ms Rawson's dive of 82 metres in June secured the top spot for an Australian female in the Constant Weight with fins (CWT) discipline. She also holds first place in Constant Weight with bi-fins (CWTB) with a dive of 81 metres, and in the Free Immersion (FIM) category for a 79-metre dive. "I love the world free diving has opened up for me," Ms Rawson said. She intends to rest in Bali before returning to her base in Egypt — another location popular for free divers — to contemplate her next free diving record attempt.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?
We've all heard that the advice about having a good breakfast can set us up for the day. But does that mean this meal can makes us healthier and thinner – or is it something else? Along with old classics like "carrots give you night vision" and "Santa doesn't bring toys to misbehaving children", one of the most well-worn phrases in the arsenal of tired parents everywhere is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many of us grow up believing that skipping breakfast is a dietary travesty, but the number of us who take time to eat it can vary. Around three-quarters of Americans regularly eat breakfast, while in the UK, around 94% of adults and just 77% of adolescents will regularly eat breakfast. A study in Switzerland showed only two thirds of adults there regularly consume the meal. When pressed for time, the morning breakfast is often the first thing to go. How many of us eat it while on the run, or gladly exchange a a bowl of cereal, a couple of slices of toast or a pastry for a few extra minutes in bed? Yet, the clue for why breakfast is supposed to be important is in its name: we're advised to eat it to break our overnight fast. "The body uses a lot of energy stores for growth and repair through the night," explains dietician Sarah Elder. "Eating a balanced breakfast helps to up our energy, as well as protein and calcium used throughout the night." But there's widespread disagreement over whether breakfast should be deemed so important. As well as the rising popularity of fasting diets, there have been concerns around the sugar content of cereal and the food industry's involvement in pro-breakfast research – and even one claim from an academic that breakfast is "dangerous". So what's the reality? Is breakfast a necessary start to the day… or a marketing ploy by cereal companies? You might also like:• Is sugar really bad for you? • We don't need nearly as much protein as we consume • The truth about eating eggs Can skipping breakfast cause weight gain? The most researched aspect of breakfast (and breakfast-skipping) has been its links to obesity. Scientists have different theories as to why there's a relationship between the two. In one US study that analysed the health data of 50,000 people over seven years, researchers found that those who made breakfast the largest meal of the day were more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who ate a large lunch or dinner. The researchers argued that breakfast helps increase satiety, reduce daily calorie intake, improve the quality of our diet – since breakfast foods are often higher in fibre and nutrients – and improve insulin sensitivity at subsequent meals, which can be a risk for diabetes. But as with any study of this kind, it was unclear if that was the cause – or if breakfast-skippers were just more likely to be overweight to begin with. To find out, researchers designed a study in which 52 obese women took part in a 12-week weight loss programme. All had the same number of calories over the day, but half had breakfast, while the other half did not. What they found was that it wasn't breakfast itself that caused the participants to lose weight: it was changing their normal routine. The women who said before the study that they usually ate breakfast lost 8.9kg when they stopped having breakfast, compared to 6.2kg in the breakfast group. Meanwhile, those who usually skipped breakfast lost 7.7kg when they started eating it – and 6kg when they continued to skip it. If breakfast alone isn't a guarantee of weight loss, why is there a link between obesity and skipping breakfast? Alexandra Johnstone, professor of appetite research at the University of Aberdeen, argues that it may simply be because breakfast-skippers have been found to be less knowledgeable about nutrition and health. "There are a lot of studies on the relationship between breakfast eating and possible health outcomes, but this may be because those who eat breakfast choose to habitually have health-enhancing behaviours such as not smoking and regular exercise," she says. A 2020 review of 45 studies looking into the relationship between breakfast and obesity confirmed that skipping breakfast increases the risk of obesity. The same effect has been found in children. Does it matter when we eat breakfast? Intermittent fasting, which involves fasting overnight and into the next day, is gaining ground among those looking to lose or maintain their weight or improve their health. One pilot study published in 2018, for example, found that intermittent fasting improves blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure. Eight men with pre-diabetes were assigned one of two eating schedules: either eating all their calories between 9am and 3pm, or eating the same number of calories over 12 hours. The results for the 9am-3pm group were found to be on par with medicine that lowers blood pressure, according to Courtney Peterson, the study's author and assistant professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Still, the study's small size means more research is needed on its possible long-term benefits. If skipping breakfast (and other food outside of a restricted time slot) could potentially be good for you, does that mean breakfast could be bad for you? One academic has said so as eating early in the day causes our cortisol to peak more than it does later on. This causes the body to become resistant to insulin over time and can lead to type 2 diabetes. But Fredrik Karpe, professor of metabolic medicine at Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, argues this isn't the case. Instead, higher levels of cortisol in the morning are just part of our body's natural rhythm. Not only that, but breakfast is key to jumpstarting our metabolism, he says. "In order for other tissues to respond well to food intake, you need an initial trigger involving carbs responding to insulin. Breakfast is critical for this to happen," Karpe says. A randomised control trial found that skipping breakfast disrupted the circadian rhythms and led to larger spikes in blood glucose levels after eating. Eating breakfast, the researchers conclude, is essential for keeping our body clock running on time. A 2023 review of Japanese adolescents found that skipping breakfast was associated with pre-diabetes – particularly among those who were overweight. Peterson says those who skip breakfast can be divided into those who either skip breakfast and eat dinner at a normal time – getting the benefits of intermittent fasting, if not breakfast – or those who skip breakfast and eat dinner late. "For those who eat dinner later, their risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease goes through the roof. While it seems breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it might actually be dinner," Peterson says. "Our blood sugar control is best early in the day. When we eat dinner late, that's when we're most vulnerable because our blood sugar is worst. There's more research to do, but I'm confident you shouldn't skip breakfast and have dinner late." She says we should think of our circadian rhythm as an orchestra. "There are two parts of our circadian clock. There's the master clock in the brain, which we should think of as analogous to a conductor of an orchestra, and the other half is in every organ, which has a separate clock," she says. And that "orchestra" is set by two outside factors: bright light exposure and our eating schedule. "If you're eating when you're not getting bright light exposure, the clocks that control metabolism are in different time zones, creating conflicting signals as to whether to rev up or down." It's like two halves of an orchestra playing different songs, Peterson explains, and this is why eating late impairs blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Researchers from the University of Surrey and University of Aberdeen have looked into the mechanisms behind how the time we eat influences body weight. Findings published in 2022 suggest that a bigger breakfast and smaller dinner is beneficial to weight control, as a bigger breakfast led to a smaller appetite for the rest of the day. The health benefits of eating breakfast Breakfast has been found to affect more than just weight. Skipping breakfast has been associated with a 27% increased risk of heart disease, a 21% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in men, and a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in women. This may be because skipping breakfast affects glucose and lipid control, and insulin levels, say researchers behind a 2023 study on fasting and diabetes. They tracked the diets of more than 100,000 people over an average of seven years, and found that the risk of developing the disease was significantly higher among the participants who regularly ate breakfast after 9am, compared to those who ate it before 8am. One reason for some of the health benefits associated with eating breakfast – at least in the Western world – may be its nutritional value, partly because some cereals are fortified with vitamins. In one study on the breakfast habits of more than 8,000 people in the UK, researchers found that people who consumed breakfast regularly had a higher overall micronutrient intake, partly driven by current UK fortification of vitamins in breakfast cereals, bread and spreads, the researchers say. There have been similar findings in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia and the US. Breakfast is also associated with improved brain function, including concentration and language. A review of 54 studies found that eating breakfast can improve memory, though the effects on other brain functions were inconclusive. However, one of the review's researchers, Mary Beth Spitznagel, a clinical psychologist at Kent State University in Ohio, says there is "reasonable" evidence breakfast does improve concentration – there just needs to be more research. "Looking at studies that tested concentration, the number of studies showing a benefit was exactly the same as the number that found no benefit," says Spitznagel. "And no studies found that eating breakfast was bad for concentration." What's most important, some argue, is less whether we eat breakfast but what we eat when we do. High-protein breakfasts have been found to be particularly effective in reducing food cravings and consumption later in the day, according to research by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. While cereal remains a firm favourite among breakfast consumers in the UK and US, a 2020 Action on Sugar survey of 120 breakfast cereals found that a third were high in sugar, and only three cereals were low in sugar. But some research suggests if we're going to eat sugary foods, it's best to do it early. One study found that changing levels of the appetite hormone leptin in the body throughout the day coincide with having our lowest threshold for sweet food in a morning, while scientists from Tel Aviv University have found that hunger is best regulated in the morning. They recruited 200 obese adults to take part in a 16-week-long diet, where half added dessert to their breakfast, and half didn't. Those who added dessert lost an average of 40lbs (18kg) more – however, the study was unable to show the long-term effects. A review of 54 studies found that there is no consensus yet on what type of breakfast is healthier and it concluded that the type of breakfast doesn't matter as much as simply eating something. Another factor to consider is where you eat breakfast. A 2022 study looking at the breakfast habits of almost 4,000 young people found that those who eat breakfast out of the home were more likely to have psychosocial behavioural problems than those who eat breakfast at home. One reason for this, the researchers say, is that the social context of having breakfast as a family may be linked to having a more nutritious breakfast. Final take While there's no conclusive evidence on exactly what we should be eating and when, the consensus is that we should listen to our own bodies and eat when we're hungry. "Breakfast is most important for people who are hungry when they wake up," Johnstone says. For instance, research shows that those with pre-diabetes and diabetes may find they have better concentration after a lower-GI breakfast such as porridge, which is broken down more slowly and causes a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels. Everybody starts the day differently – and those individual differences, particularly in glucose function, need to be researched more closely, Spitznagel says. In the end, the key may be to be mindful of not over-emphasising any single meal, but rather looking at how we eat all day long. "A balanced breakfast is really helpful, but getting regular meals throughout the day is more important to leave blood sugar stable throughout the day, which helps control weight and hunger levels," says Elder. "Breakfast isn't the only meal we should be getting right." *This article was originally published on 27 November 2018. It was updated on 16 July 2025 to include recent research. -- Join one million Future fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The simple diet that's a natural Ozempic and could even help you live longer - all with ingredients from your kitchen cupboard, by nutrition expert PROFESSOR TIM SPECTOR
It's simple, affordable and deeply unglamorous – and yet, as someone who has spent their career studying the effects of diet on health, I believe fibre may be the most under-appreciated nutrient of all. Until recently, the only place you'd hear it mentioned was in adverts for unfashionable slimming clubs or printed on the back of a cereal box.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Dietician shares 6 cheap foods that work like Ozempic to curb appetite
When it comes to avocados, millennials may have actually got it right. The green fruit works in the same way as jabs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, one expert has claimed. Slimming injections have ushered in a new era in the war on obesity. The treatment spurs weight loss by mimicking the actions of a hormone released in the gut after eating - GLP-1. As well as telling the pancreas to make more insulin, the GLP-1 hormone feeds back to the brain and makes us feel full - stopping patients from over-eating. But the jabs are not without side effects, with users commonly complaining of nausea, constipation, and diarrhoea after taking the medication. Yet, Maria AbiHanna, a Dubai-based dietician said six certain food groups 'can do the same thing naturally, without the nausea'. The first, healthy fats, includes foods like avocados, nut butters, and fatty fish like mackerel. Despite often being seen as 'bad', she said, a small amount of fat is an essential part of a healthy balanced diet and prove beneficial for weight loss. These fats help the body absorb key minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin D, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Protein, meanwhile, specifically eggs, Greek yoghurt, and edamame beans, can help people feel fuller for longer and 'turns off cravings before they even start', she added. One serving of Greek yoghurt boasts an impressive 20g of protein, whilst three large eggs pack in 18g. Guidelines suggest that most adults need around 0.75-1g of protein per kilo of body weight, which is around 45g for women and 55g for men or two portions of meat, fish, nuts or tofu per day. High-fibre foods, such as chia seeds, lentils, and oats, equally have a similar effect, Ms AbiHanna said. Fibre is a type of carbohydrate found in plants that can help regulate digestion and curb huger pangs. Unlike other carbohydrates, fibre isn't easily broken down in the gut and absorbed by the body as sugar. Rather, it travels down the gut, through the intestines, slowing down digestion and keeping blood sugar steady. Chia seeds expand in your gut, while lentils and oats pack fibre and resistant starch for long-lasting satisfaction, she said. Recent studies have also found that dieters who have fibre rich diets report greater weight loss than their peers. One 2023 study published in the journal Science, found those who followed a high-fibre diet lost more weight than those on a control diet, despite their overall calorie intake being similar. Another food group Ms AbiHanna suggested was leafy green vegetables such as broccoli or cucumber to every meal, 'to feel fuller on lower calories'. Loading up on these high-volume, low-calorie options, such as leafy greens and cucumbers, will trick the body into feeling full as the stomach stretches, she said. Only specific carbohydrates, however, will have a similar effect as GLP-1s, she noted. Slow-burning carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes and quinoa, digest more slowly, helping to maintain energy levels without the dreaded sugar crash. 'Think long-term fuel, not fast-burning fire', she said. 'If it stabilises your blood sugar, it stabilises your hunger.' For this reason, certain snacks also work well. For anyone looking to lose weight, she advised opting for green tea or matcha to help suppress hunger pangs, or fat-fibre combinations like apple slices with nut butter to ward off sugar cravings. 'This isn't about dieting or willpower', the nutrition expert said. 'It's about working with your biology, not against it.'
