Every country and culture has a different set of “norms” that dictate how and what a person should eat, and how they look. Exercise and diet are the main factors in how a person’s body looks and operates, aside from genetic traits that can vary from person to person. In the Muslim culture, the eating habits and body standards are immensely different from those in the American culture. The reasons why they differ is another interesting piece. The Islamic religion sets most of the rules that Muslims follow, while Americans usually set their loose rules based on what society/celebrities come up with, and what the medical professionals believe at the time. This can be seen when evaluating body standards from different time periods, the different
…show more content…
In the past, Americans thought that a thicker body type, with more curves and a fuller chest, was the most attractive, like Marilyn Monroe. In the late 1990’s-early 2000’s, super skinny models were the most popular. Bodies like Twiggy or Kate Moss were icons representing this body type. According to the National Center for Health Statistics Reports, the average female fashion model in America is 5’10” and weighs about 120 pounds, and the average male fashion model is 6’1” and about 160 pounds. However, in reality, the average woman is 5’4” and 169 pounds, and the average man is 5’9” and 190 pounds (Mirror Mirror Eating Disorders). Nowadays, while obesity is still an issue, the most ideal body type has shifted to a more athletic, toned body. In Muslim cultures, Omar Aldaud does not believe it’s possible to say any body type is more common or more accepted than another. He mentions that in Egypt, their bodies tend to be stockier, while in Saudi Arabia, their body types are leaner. Even so, obesity is not as much of a problem in the Muslim culture as it is in the American …show more content…
In America, about 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their lives. This can include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and more (Get The Facts on Eating Disorders). In Germany, a connection was made between a person’s religious affiliation and the eating disorder they have. For example, Protestants are had higher numbers of people with anorexia, while Roman Catholics had higher numbers of people with bulimia (Ali & Maharajh, 2013). Most people consider eating disorders to be a Western thing, more or less. It is easy to think that with women wearing Hijabs in the Middle East, they wouldn’t worry about how society sees them since their bodies and faces are mostly covered. However, this is not the case. While there are many less cases of eating disorders in the Muslim culture, they are present, and they are rising. Cairo, Egypt is a predominantly Muslim region. According to Crystal Karges, a Masters-level dietitian, there was a research based questionnaire given in Cairo about eating disorders. She writes, “This questionnaire estimated the prevalence of bulimia nervosa among school girls at 1.2%, with the prevalence of bulimia nervosa among Iranian school girls to be estimated at 3.2% (Karges, 2016).” Other research that included several Islamic nations shows that about 40% of college age nursing students in these countries
In the past, Americans thought that a thicker body type, with more curves and a fuller chest, was the most attractive, like Marilyn Monroe. In the late 1990’s-early 2000’s, super skinny models were the most popular. Bodies like Twiggy or Kate Moss were icons representing this body type. According to the National Center for Health Statistics Reports, the average female fashion model in America is 5’10” and weighs about 120 pounds, and the average male fashion model is 6’1” and about 160 pounds. However, in reality, the average woman is 5’4” and 169 pounds, and the average man is 5’9” and 190 pounds (Mirror Mirror Eating Disorders). Nowadays, while obesity is still an issue, the most ideal body type has shifted to a more athletic, toned body. In Muslim cultures, Omar Aldaud does not believe it’s possible to say any body type is more common or more accepted than another. He mentions that in Egypt, their bodies tend to be stockier, while in Saudi Arabia, their body types are leaner. Even so, obesity is not as much of a problem in the Muslim culture as it is in the American …show more content…
In America, about 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their lives. This can include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and more (Get The Facts on Eating Disorders). In Germany, a connection was made between a person’s religious affiliation and the eating disorder they have. For example, Protestants are had higher numbers of people with anorexia, while Roman Catholics had higher numbers of people with bulimia (Ali & Maharajh, 2013). Most people consider eating disorders to be a Western thing, more or less. It is easy to think that with women wearing Hijabs in the Middle East, they wouldn’t worry about how society sees them since their bodies and faces are mostly covered. However, this is not the case. While there are many less cases of eating disorders in the Muslim culture, they are present, and they are rising. Cairo, Egypt is a predominantly Muslim region. According to Crystal Karges, a Masters-level dietitian, there was a research based questionnaire given in Cairo about eating disorders. She writes, “This questionnaire estimated the prevalence of bulimia nervosa among school girls at 1.2%, with the prevalence of bulimia nervosa among Iranian school girls to be estimated at 3.2% (Karges, 2016).” Other research that included several Islamic nations shows that about 40% of college age nursing students in these countries