PETALING JAYA: Adolescents are increasingly influenced by unrealistic body ideals, with many aspiring to look like K-pop stars, a trend that concerns a health professional.
Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz dietician Muhammad Azif Azizi Md Noh has been treating teens aged between 12 and 17 struggling with eating disorders such as anorexia, causing them to be severely malnourished.
“From my personal view, there is a rise in cases of anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder, especially among young girls.
“A lot of them come to us severely malnourished because they were trying to emulate the slim, flawless figures they see on social media and in the K-pop industry.
“What they don’t realise is that many of these images are airbrushed or manipulated, and the diets that some of these idols follow are not healthy for growing teenagers,” he said in an interview with The Star.
Muhammad Azif said eating disorders are complex conditions that can have lasting effects on both physical and mental health.
He added that there are three primary types of eating disorders commonly seen in adolescents: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
“Anorexia is characterised by extreme food restriction. These patients are terrified of gaining weight, even when they are dangerously underweight.
“They often have a distorted body image and see themselves as overweight, even when their bones are visible,” he said.
Bulimia involves episodes of binge-eating followed by purging, while binge-eating is having meals without restrictions and without the purging, which can lead to obesity and diabetes.
Muhammad Azif said patients with anorexia tend to cut out all kinds of food and consume little amounts during mealtimes, and tend to refer to the amount of calories they are taking in.
“My patients are well educated when it comes to food. Even when being treated, they would check the amount of sugar and calories, and would refuse to eat.
“This is when I would educate them why certain food is necessary to help them grow shinier hair and a flawless face, through positive affirmations.
“We want them to eat a balanced meal and know that it is better to look like yourself and be healthy,” he said.
“Eating disorders do not have a standardised diet plan as different conditions require different treatments.
“A teenager needs a good mix of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fruits and vegetables,” he said.
Having a balanced meal begins at home and parents should lead the way on how to eat healthy.
He added that eating disorders can be triggered by family and friends through hurtful comments or peer pressure from friends, leading to a negative body image.
“Social media plays a part as well, depicting a constant ‘perfect body image’, and adolescents feel they need to conform to such standards.
“But this can be treated with better support from family and society as we need to embrace a healthy body image, not stick-thin figures,” he said.
Clinical psychologist Dr Rahmattullah Khan said family dynamics play a vital role in the recovery journey of adolescents with anorexia, as a supportive and informed family environment provides essential stability and emotional security.
Through psychoeducation, he said family members would gain a deeper understanding of anorexia, including its psychological and physical impacts, which enables them to approach their loved one’s recovery with greater empathy and patience.
(Psychoeducation is a type of intervention where therapists provide clients with information about their diagnosis, symptoms and treatment. It is not just about providing the information, but doing so in a structured way.)
“Participating in therapy allows families to learn strategies that reinforce positive behavioural changes, while also equipping them to navigate the complex challenges of recovery.
“Establishing regular, wholesome family meals offers structured, positive mealtime experiences, reinforcing healthy eating patterns and reducing the adolescent’s focus on food-related anxieties,” he added.
Rahmattullah, who is also a Malaysian Psychological Association council member, said that in this way, adolescents will learn to recognise automatic, self-critical thoughts about food and body image, replacing them with more balanced, realistic beliefs.
