Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses mostly prominent in Western countries. Little has been researched about these disorders in countries like Bangladesh. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the studies on eating disorders in Bangladesh, f...

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Main Authors: Md. Hasan Al Banna, Satyajit Kundu, S. M. Yasir Arafat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Health Science Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70537
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author Md. Hasan Al Banna
Satyajit Kundu
S. M. Yasir Arafat
author_facet Md. Hasan Al Banna
Satyajit Kundu
S. M. Yasir Arafat
author_sort Md. Hasan Al Banna
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses mostly prominent in Western countries. Little has been researched about these disorders in countries like Bangladesh. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the studies on eating disorders in Bangladesh, focusing on rates and associated factors. Methods A search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL on February 20, 2024, to identify the available studies on eating disorders in Bangladesh. After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in this review. Results Studies were published between 2015 and 2023 with a sample size ranging from 196 to 4076. All the studies were conducted among university students and used screening tools to assess eating disorders where the majority of the studies utilized the Eating Attitudes Test‐26. The rate of at risk of eating disorders varies between 20.4% and 38%. Sociocultural factors, age, sex, academic attainment, marital status, family income, smoking, nutritional status, anxiety, depression, internet addiction, high religious practice, previous cosmetic surgery, and binge drinking were associated with eating disorder risk. However, all studies focused on a single population group, and no nationwide studies or research involving community populations or clinical samples were identified. Conclusion Although there has been an increase in research on eating disorders in Bangladesh since 2015, community‐based studies using diagnostic tools are warranted. Adaptation and development of culture sensitive instruments could be an important necessity along with an enduring collaboration among researchers, stakeholders, and clinicians.
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spelling doaj-art-7ae9bdc4a9784d5eb57e5f4fbe40d5f72025-08-20T02:54:10ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-03-0183n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70537Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative ReviewMd. Hasan Al Banna0Satyajit Kundu1S. M. Yasir Arafat2Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science Patuakhali Science and Technology University Patuakhali BangladeshPublic Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry Griffith University Gold Coast AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry Bangladesh Specialized Hospital Dhaka BangladeshABSTRACT Background and Aims Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses mostly prominent in Western countries. Little has been researched about these disorders in countries like Bangladesh. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the studies on eating disorders in Bangladesh, focusing on rates and associated factors. Methods A search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL on February 20, 2024, to identify the available studies on eating disorders in Bangladesh. After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in this review. Results Studies were published between 2015 and 2023 with a sample size ranging from 196 to 4076. All the studies were conducted among university students and used screening tools to assess eating disorders where the majority of the studies utilized the Eating Attitudes Test‐26. The rate of at risk of eating disorders varies between 20.4% and 38%. Sociocultural factors, age, sex, academic attainment, marital status, family income, smoking, nutritional status, anxiety, depression, internet addiction, high religious practice, previous cosmetic surgery, and binge drinking were associated with eating disorder risk. However, all studies focused on a single population group, and no nationwide studies or research involving community populations or clinical samples were identified. Conclusion Although there has been an increase in research on eating disorders in Bangladesh since 2015, community‐based studies using diagnostic tools are warranted. Adaptation and development of culture sensitive instruments could be an important necessity along with an enduring collaboration among researchers, stakeholders, and clinicians.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70537anorexiaBangladeshbinge eatingeating disordersobesity
spellingShingle Md. Hasan Al Banna
Satyajit Kundu
S. M. Yasir Arafat
Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review
Health Science Reports
anorexia
Bangladesh
binge eating
eating disorders
obesity
title Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review
title_full Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review
title_fullStr Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review
title_full_unstemmed Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review
title_short Eating Disorders in Bangladesh: A Narrative Review
title_sort eating disorders in bangladesh a narrative review
topic anorexia
Bangladesh
binge eating
eating disorders
obesity
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70537
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