Breaking the Cycle: Leveling Up the Care for Eating Disorders in Malaysia
By: Dr Nazariah Aiza Harun1, Dr Norley Shuib2,3, Dr Fatimah Emran2, Dr Ng Chai Nee2
1Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Selayang, Lebuhraya Selayang-Kepong, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia, 2Fellow in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Selayang, Lebuhraya Selayang-Kepong, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia, and 3Senior Medical Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sg. Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sg. Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
Overview
Eating disorders (ED) is an emerging issue in Southeast Asia including Malaysia. To increase awareness about eating disorders, the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of Hospital Selayang embarked on a 2-part course on eating disorders in April 2025 and August 2025. The first part of the course was held physically at Institut Latihan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (ILKKM) Sg. Buloh and attended by a myriad of health personnel from all levels.
The second part of the Breaking the Cycle course was held online and we had the pleasure of gaining knowledge from the esteemed Dr Lee Ee Lian, Senior Consultant Eating Disorder Psychiatrist, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore. Dr Lee is the founder and first Director of the Eating Disorders Programme at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). She is also the first Clinical Director of the SGH Lifestyle Improvement Fitness Enhancement (LIFE) Centre.
Objective
The first course, “Breaking the Cycle: Evidence Based Care for Anorexia Nervosa in Children & Adolescents” was designed to provide evidence-based knowledge and practices for the care and management of anorexia nervosa among children and adolescents. It aims to educate healthcare professionals and caregivers on effective, research-supported approaches to treatment and support for young individuals dealing with anorexia nervosa. The program offered a unique learning experience through lectures, dialogues and sharing of lived experience from a parent. The highlight of the first course was the sharing session by a parent whose child was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who provided valuable insight about the illness from his perspective as a parent. Currently his child is embarking on a new chapter of her life in college and in remission.
The objective of the “Breaking the Cycle 2.0: Unfolding & Understanding Other Eating Disorders in Children & Adolescents” course was to equip healthcare professionals with evidence-based clinical knowledge and practical strategies for diagnosing and managing various eating disorders in children and adolescents, beyond anorexia nervosa- specifically bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
Finally, the broader objective of the courses was sharing of knowledge and encourage a holistic approach to the management of ED in Malaysia, fostering a shift toward interventions that recognise and integrate family systems in the treatment of mental health problems.
Our team decided to organise these courses as we felt there is need for it. Furthermore, the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of Hospital Selayang is the only hospital in Malaysia that has a combined clinic treating eating disorders. We have been running this clinic since 2012 in collaboration with our adolescent paediatricians, dieticians, clinical psychologists, and counsellors. We hope we can continue this service and help more patients in their journey to recovery.
Figure 1: A lecture slot on Medical Complications & Management of Eating Disorders by Dr Hargeet Kaur, consultant adolescent paediatrician of Hospital Selayang during the Breaking the Cycle: Evidence Based Care for Anorexia Nervosa in Children & Adolescents course
Figure 2: Speakers & participants of the Breaking the Cycle: Evidence Based Care for Anorexia Nervosa in Children & Adolescents course
Future Directions
The Breaking the Cycle initiative has laid a strong foundation for improving the understanding and management of eating disorders among children and adolescents. Moving forward, sustained collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, and the community will be vital to ensure early detection, effective intervention, and long-term recovery for affected individuals.
Both courses were jointly organised with the Persatuan Kebajikan & Pendidikan Psikiatri (PKPP) Hospital Selayang and the proceeds will further help our patients and staffs. The courses were positively received by the audience and we hope to further organised such courses in the future.
Figure 3: A screenshot of the speakers & participants of Breaking the Cycle 2.0: Unfolding & Understanding Other Eating Disorders in Children & Adolescents course
This article represents the view of its author(s) and does not necessarily represent the view of the IACAPAP's bureau or executive committee.
