Body image, health, and modernity: Women's perspectives and experiences in the United Arab Emirates

Sarah S. Trainer, Zayed University

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source of Publication

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health

Publication Date

7-1-2010

Abstract

The countries of the Arab Gulf have experienced accelerated development and urbanization over the last 50 years. Changes in health have likewise been dramatic: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE now have some of the highest proportions of obese/overweight people in the world, with correspondingly high rates of chronic disease. In the UAE, particularly high rates of obesity/overweight have been reported among middle-aged Emirati women, but other problems relating to health and nutrition are starting to be identified in younger age groups as well. This article describes preliminary data from a project among young Emirati women in the UAE. This study examines how these women cope with the increased availability of fast food, changing work patterns, and evolving ideas about body image, "risk," and health within a larger context of increasing chronic disease and weight gain throughout the UAE. © 2010 APJPH.

ISSN

1010-5395

Publisher

SAGE Publications Inc.

Volume

22

Issue

SUPPL. 3

First Page

60S

Last Page

67S

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

body image, development, nutrition transition, obesity/overweight, underweight, United Arab Emirates, women

Scopus ID

77953866776

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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