In the UAE, growing numbers of parents are expressing deep concern as children, some only eight years old, begin showing signs of eating disorders, refusing meals and developing unhealthy attitudes toward food.
Parents alarmed as children as young as 8 develop eating disorders and refuse food in the UAE.
At first, Filipino expatriate Myrna Gomez was puzzled by her 10-year-old daughter’s sudden shift in eating habits. “She barely eats now, even when I prepare her favourite dishes. Most of the time, she comes home from school with her lunch untouched,” Gomez shared.
Looking back, Myrna now believes the change may have been sparked by what she once thought were harmless, playful remarks from herself and other family members. Filled with regret over those comments, the 40-year-old Dubai resident is now focused on helping her daughter heal. She said they have already sought professional advice from a dietitian to support her recovery.
A.K., a Jordanian mother, is going through a similar challenge with her 11-year-old son, who has recently developed strict eating habits. “He limits himself to no more than 1,000 calories a day,” she explained, mentioning that he even purchased a food scale to measure the calorie content of everything he eats.
“We don’t really know what triggered it,” she continued. “But one day last summer, after coming back from a camp, he suddenly announced that he wanted to start eating healthier.” Initially, his parents felt proud of his decision, thinking it was a positive lifestyle choice. However, their concern has grown over time. “He’s become so rigid with his eating that it affects his mood,” A.K. said. “He checks the mirror almost every day, worried about whether his stomach looks smaller. But he’s still a child — he shouldn’t feel pressured to have abs or a flat stomach at his age.”
Her young son, however, doesn’t see things the same way. “He refuses to eat the lunches I prepare for him — usually mansaf or falafel,” said the 36-year-old manager. “He used to have a healthy appetite, but now his meals consist only of fruit, yogurt, and three boiled eggs a day. Even on our family’s baking Sundays — our little tradition for bonding and enjoying sweets together — he no longer takes part,” added the Abu Dhabi resident.
Meanwhile, Filipino expat Carla Suarez discovered her 12-year-old daughter’s eating problem only after a teacher noticed her secretly throwing away food at school. “After two days of seeing that she wasn’t eating, the teacher contacted me. When I asked my daughter about it, she didn’t want to open up,” said the Dubai-based mother.
Carla explained that her daughter’s diet has become extremely limited — just bananas, grapes, and steamed chicken — avoiding other foods because she believes they are “too fatty.” “It all began after Christmas and New Year, when she visited the Philippines. We joked that she had gained a little weight, and her friends teased her too. We thought it was harmless fun, but she clearly took it to heart,” Carla shared.
Over the following months, Carla noticed a drastic change. “She lost a significant amount of weight — her cheeks looked hollow, and her arms had become so thin. She didn’t appear ill, but it was clear she was proud of fitting back into her old clothes. She seemed happy about losing weight, even though it worried us deeply,” the concerned mother said.
Healthcare experts worldwide are raising concerns over a growing rise in eating disorders among children and teenagers. Research by the European Paediatric Association, published in the Journal of Paediatrics in December 2023, revealed that such cases have been steadily increasing for the past two decades. Between 1999 and 2022, global data showed that around 22.36% of young people now display unhealthy eating patterns or disordered behaviours.
In the United Kingdom, the London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image reported a 128% surge in hospital admissions among boys and young men between 2015–2016 and 2020–2021. Additionally, hospitalisations for children and adolescents with eating disorders jumped by 35% in 2022 alone. In the United States, medical visits related to eating disorders in individuals under 17 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022.
According to Dr. Salman Kareem, a psychiatry specialist at Aster Clinic in Dubai, this concerning trend is also evident locally. “We’re seeing cases in children as young as 8 or 9, though the most affected group remains those aged 12 to 17,” he said. “Early teens, particularly between 11 and 14, are especially at risk. Often, these younger children start out as picky eaters or begin rejecting foods they once enjoyed. Parents may assume it’s just a passing phase — until it becomes much more serious.”
Healthcare experts worldwide are raising concerns over a growing rise in eating disorders among children and teenagers. Research by the European Paediatric Association, published in the Journal of Paediatrics in December 2023, revealed that such cases have been steadily increasing for the past two decades. Between 1999 and 2022, global data showed that around 22.36% of young people now display unhealthy eating patterns or disordered behaviours.
In the United Kingdom, the London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image reported a 128% surge in hospital admissions among boys and young men between 2015–2016 and 2020–2021. Additionally, hospitalisations for children and adolescents with eating disorders jumped by 35% in 2022 alone. In the United States, medical visits related to eating disorders in individuals under 17 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022.
According to Dr. Salman Kareem, a psychiatry specialist at Aster Clinic in Dubai, this concerning trend is also evident locally. “We’re seeing cases in children as young as 8 or 9, though the most affected group remains those aged 12 to 17,” he said. “Early teens, particularly between 11 and 14, are especially at risk. Often, these younger children start out as picky eaters or begin rejecting foods they once enjoyed. Parents may assume it’s just a passing phase — until it becomes much more serious.”
He also noted a noticeable change in gender trends, explaining, “Although eating disorders have historically been more common among girls, we’re now witnessing a significant increase in cases among boys as well.”
Dr. Salman further drew attention to the growing number of children diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), particularly among younger age groups. “Unlike anorexia, ARFID isn’t driven by a desire to lose weight or be thin,” he explained. “Children with this condition tend to avoid certain foods due to their texture, smell, taste, or even fear of choking. Many end up eating only a limited range of foods — sometimes as few as five to ten items — which can cause severe weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Meanwhile, anorexia and bulimia continue to be widespread among teenagers,” he added.
Experts believe that several factors contribute to the growing number of eating disorder cases. Dr. Salman explained that social media exposure, stress from the pandemic years, and heightened body image expectations have all played a role in this increase.
Dubai-based nutritional therapist Adele Repas agreed, emphasising the strong influence of online platforms. “Social media exerts enormous pressure on young minds,” she said. “With filters, editing tools, and carefully posed photos, teenagers are constantly shown unrealistic ideals of beauty. Makeup and digital enhancements can completely alter appearances — but many children can’t tell the difference, leading them to compare themselves unfairly.”
Experts believe that several factors contribute to the growing number of eating disorder cases. Dr. Salman explained that social media exposure, stress from the pandemic years, and heightened body image expectations have all played a role in this increase.
Dubai-based nutritional therapist Adele Repas agreed, emphasising the strong influence of online platforms. “Social media exerts enormous pressure on young minds,” she said. “With filters, editing tools, and carefully posed photos, teenagers are constantly shown unrealistic ideals of beauty. Makeup and digital enhancements can completely alter appearances — but many children can’t tell the difference, leading them to compare themselves unfairly.”
Adele also highlighted the emotional and psychological roots behind eating disorders. “Some children feel that too many aspects of their lives are being controlled, often by caring but overly protective parents,” she explained. “For them, managing what they eat can become a way to assert independence. It’s important to remember that eating disorders are deeply complex mental health conditions, not just about food.”
Dr. Salman underscored the need for a collaborative approach in treating eating disorders, stressing that nutritionists, pediatricians, and mental health professionals must work together to tackle the condition’s physical, emotional, and psychological dimensions.
Adele, on the other hand, highlighted that seeking expert intervention is the most crucial step. “In more serious cases, I always suggest combining psychological therapy with nutritional guidance,” she explained. “This helps children rebuild a positive relationship with food through mindful eating, rather than focusing on dieting or weight loss.”
She added that children often open up more easily to professionals than to their parents. “Many kids hide their struggles or even deny them. That’s why it’s vital for parents to maintain trust — keep communication honest, stay supportive, and be the example your child looks up to,” Repas said.
Similarly, Joanne Proctor, a holistic nutritionist based in Dubai, reminded parents to be conscious of what they say around their kids. “Pre-teens and teenagers absorb everything — they’re incredibly impressionable,” she said. “Even casual jokes about body size or looks can seriously affect their confidence. When parents speak negatively about their own appearance, children pick up on it and learn to do the same. It sends the wrong message about self-worth.”
“If parents frequently make comments like ‘I’m overweight’ or ‘I look terrible,’ children begin to adopt that same critical perspective,” she explained. “Even minor flaws can feel exaggerated, feeding their insecurities,” she added.
Dr. Salman highlighted that managing eating disorders in teenagers can be particularly challenging, especially when coexisting mental health issues like anxiety or depression are present.
He explained that the difficulty lies in addressing both the physical health risks and the psychological obstacles that hinder recovery. Nonetheless, he emphasized that effective treatment is achievable through a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach.
“Family-Based Treatment (FBT) has shown strong results with adolescents,” he said, “because it allows parents to temporarily oversee their child’s eating while guiding them toward a healthier relationship with food.”
He also noted the benefits of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically adapted for eating disorders. “CBT helps young patients recognize and change harmful thought patterns, such as believing that eating a single cookie means they have lost all self-control,” he explained.
