MEEDA – Middle East Eating Disorder Association

THE MIDDLE EAST EATING DISORDER ASSOCIATION
Eating disorders: education and support
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ABOUT MEEDA

The Middle East Eating Disorders Association was established in 2009.

Eating disorders are neither well known to many people in the Middle East or simply not understood at all. ‘Eating Disorders’ are typically associated with someone that does not eat i.e. ‘anorexia’ or, someone that overeats i.e. ‘bulimia’, however there are many other types.

Knowing about the wide variety of eating disorders, having a better understanding of them and their causes, and being able to identify the early signs in yourself and loved ones, as well as knowing what to do, will help prevent a struggle that can in some cases last a lifetime.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is the deadliest of all mental health disorders. There are 2 types of anorexia: 1) the restrictive type and 2) the purging type. The Restrictive type will lose weight through strict diets, fasting, and excessive exercise, whereas the Purging type will lose weight through the use of laxatives, diet pills or other diuretics.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binging and purging (i.e. eating large amount in a short space of time followed by self-induced vomiting) as a way to control weight gain. The use of laxatives and diuretics are common.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder characterized by excessive eating in a short space of time even when not hungry. However, binging episodes do not follow with purging (i.e. self induced vomiting), nor are laxatives or diuretics used.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which an unhealthy obsession about consuming only healthy foods develops.

Night Eating Syndrome

Night eating syndrome, also called “midnight hunger”, is characterized by a persistent and on-going pattern of late-night binge eating.

Bigorexia

Individuals with bigorexia (also referred to as muscle dysmorphia, reverse anorexia and/or adonis complex) develop an obsession with their muscularity believing themselves to be too weak and small no matter how big their muscles are.