Prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in Western Asia: a systematic review and meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to systematically synthesize and appraise existing literature on the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in Western Asia.

A systematic literature search of major English and Arabic databases, i.e., PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Web of Science and Scopus (English), Al-Manhal (Arabic) and grey literature was done to obtain the prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders in Western Asia. The literature search was conducted on June 12^th, 2020, and included papers from 1990–2020.

Out of the 249 unduplicated original studies reviewed, 27 were included in the final meta-analysis. Data were then categorized according to the tools used to identify the presence of disordered eating or eating disorders. The pooled prevalence of disordered eating as solicited by both the Eating Attitudes Scale 26 and the Eating Attitudes Scale 40 (N = 11841) was 22.07%, the Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food Questionnaire (n = 3160) was 22.28% and the Eating Disorder Examination–Questionnaire (n = 425) was 7.95%. The pooled prevalence obtained from those studies using semi-structured interviews for anorexia nervosa (n = 118190) was 1.59%, bulimia nervosa (n = 118513) was 2.41% and the estimated prevalence of Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) (n = 118087) was 3.51%.

Although the prevalence rate of eating disorders solicited using semi-structured interviews appeared to parallel the international range, the overall prevalence rate of disordered eating appeared to be slightly higher than the global rates of prevalence. A significant number of the suspected/detected cases of disordered eating appear to fulfill the criteria for EDNOS.

This study is classified as evidence obtained from systematic reviews and meta-analyses (i.e. Level 1).

Clinical Significance

• Evaluated existing literature on the prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders in Western Asia

• Disordered eating attitudes are common in Western Asia. The overall prevalence rate of disordered eating appears to be slightly higher than the international rates

• A significant number of the suspected or detected cases of disordered eating appear to fulfill the criteria for EDNOS

• Various idiosyncratic socio-cultural factors play a major role in shaping disordered eating

• More studies should be directed towards exploring and understanding the outcomes of disordered eating and its covariates in Non-Western countries so that preventive measures could be contemplated

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

MA, SM, and RB performed literature research, gathered and analyzed information, and generated short preliminary write-ups. MFC and MS provided research insight, content examination and supported wide-ranging aspects of the manuscript development process. Corresponding authors SA and WQ were involved in the conceptual work, framework, final draft write-up, critical reading, and editing of this manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank their institutions for their continued support.

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

COMPETING/CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of/or competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

No outside supported funds were received.