Ramadan is the ninth and most sacred month of the Islamic calendar. This is when Muslims fast from food and drink from dawn to sunset when they are allowed to break their fast. Fasting during this time can be challenging for those struggling with disordered eating and eating disorders. Being an ex-pat in Riyadh, I struggled with being a part of a culture that triggered my desire to restrict. It reminded me of the new Western diet culture of intermittent fasting that does not focus on religion, culture, or obedience but stems from the desire to control what we put in our mouths, when, and how much.

Ramadan is a time to detach from worldly pleasures and focus on one's inner self. It's a way to physically and spiritually purify, refraining from smoking, caffeine, or overeating habits. Muslims give back to others by donating to feed the hungry during this time. Culturally, fasting in the Muslim community is intended to instill self-discipline, empathy, and compassion in the individual and encourage them to increase their generosity to others.

What I learned during my time living in Riyadh was that fasting is not mandatory for individuals who struggle with disordered eating or an eating disorder. It is also not mandatory for individuals who are sick, living or traveling in another country, the elderly, those who are mentally ill, children, and those who are chronically sick. They are all exempt from fasting during Ramadhan.

As a therapeutic coach, I work with clients across the globe. Our Muslim clients in the United States who are part of Muslim communities and our clients living in Muslim countries share their struggles during Ramadan to be obedient and faithful without allowing their disordered eating or eating disorder to be triggered by fasting as a form of restriction.

As clinicians, coaches, therapists, mental health professionals, medical professionals, and para-professionals, we work with clients from various cultures, so we must work to learn the best way to provide them the support they need through understanding their plight, providing them assistance from a place of knowing, and ensuring them you have their best interest at heart while being compassionate, understanding, and empathetic to the support they need during Ramadan. #intermittentfasting #muslims #riyadh #ramadhan #ramadan #eatingdisorders #expat #culture #diet #control #projectheal #iaedp #danisgarden #thenewfaceofrecovery #findinghopeinourculture