Potential Risk and Protective Factors for Eating Disorders in Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish Women

Little is known scientifically about eating disorders (EDs) in the Haredi (Jewish ultra-Orthodox) community. This paper aims to describe Haredi culture, review available peer-reviewed research on EDs in the Haredi community and discuss possible risk and protective factors for these disorders in a cu...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Bachner-Melman, Rachel (Author) ; Zohar, Ada H. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V. [2019]
In: Journal of religion and health
Year: 2019, Volume: 58, Issue: 6, Pages: 2161-2174
Further subjects:B Risk and protective factors
B Ultra-orthodox
B Eating disorders
B Body Image
B Haredi
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:Little is known scientifically about eating disorders (EDs) in the Haredi (Jewish ultra-Orthodox) community. This paper aims to describe Haredi culture, review available peer-reviewed research on EDs in the Haredi community and discuss possible risk and protective factors for these disorders in a culturally informed way. A literature search for 2009-2019 yielded 180 references of which only nine were studies on ED in the Haredi community. We describe these and use them as a basis for discussion of possible risk and protective factors for ED in Haredi women. Risk factors may include the centrality of food, poverty, rigid dress codes, the importance of thinness for dating and marriage, high demands from women, selflessness and early marriage and high expectations from women. Protective factors may include faith, Jewish laws governing eating and food that encourage gratitude and mindful eating, and body covering as part of modesty laws that discourage objectification. Ways of overcoming the current barriers to research in the Haredi community should be sought to advance ED prevention and treatment in this population.
ISSN:1573-6571
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10943-019-00854-2