We’ve all devoured a pint of ice cream after a bad day, but a binge-eating trend is taking comfort food to a dangerous new level. Known as “doom eating”, the stress-fuelled habit centres on people reaching for calorie-packed snacks as they compulsively “doom-scroll” negative content on social media.
Whether it’s ordering a takeaway after a bad news cycle or snacking mindlessly during a late-night scroll, doom eating is becoming a reflexive coping mechanism for generations that are always online and frequently overwhelmed.
Emotional eating coach and former binge-eater Natassia D’Souza says it is no surprise that her fellow millennials “turn to food for comfort”. According to D’Souza, this is because they “face immense pressure – financial stress, social media comparison and the constant uncertainty of the future”.
She adds: “Food is one of the most accessible and socially acceptable coping mechanisms. The key issue is that many don’t realise that they’re using food to suppress feelings, which only perpetuates the cycle.”
D’Souza, who is from Dubai, struggled with comfort eating from a young age, overindulging to deal with stress, sadness and boredom. “I would turn to high-calorie, sugary snacks late at night and feel a temporary sense of relief, followed by guilt and frustration,” she says.
“It took years of trial and error, and knowledge in understanding food as a coping mechanism, but I regained control by focusing on understanding my emotional triggers, building healthier coping mechanisms, and shifting my mindset around food. I learnt to feel my emotions, not feed them, which transformed my relationship with food.”
Troubling stats
Dangerous eating habits are especially prevalent in the UAE, due to high-pressure lifestyles, rapid urbanisation and a culture of instant gratification, according to clinical nutritionist Dr Lina Shibib, of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres. “The UAE’s culture of dining out and the ubiquitous access to food delivery services have only exacerbated this issue,” she says.
“The ease of obtaining fast food or comfort meals at the push of a button makes it tempting to choose unhealthy options in times of emotional distress, rather than seeking more balanced or nutritious alternatives.”
Studies around the world have shown that young people are facing more obesity-related problems than ever before, with unsettling figures from the region. A 2022 study published in The European Journal of Public Health found that 23 per cent of 902 UAE students, with an average age of 21.9 years, reported chronic diseases linked to obesity.
“The findings from the study indicate that the prevalence of obesity and diabetes among young adults in the UAE is notably higher than the global average,” says Dr Shibib. “While the World Health Organisation reports that approximately 13 per cent of adults globally are obese, the study shows that 34.8 per cent of UAE students are overweight or obese, more than double the global figure when considering both overweight and obese individuals.”
Beating yourself up will only make the cycle worse
Natassia D’Souza,
emotional eating coach
Recent analysis from London Medical Laboratory revealed that 43 per cent of millennials have high cholesterol, compared to 39 per cent of over-eighties, with clinical lead Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan stressing the dangers of doom eating.
UAE experts, too, are raising the alarm. “Doom eating has become an increasingly concerning problem among millennials and Gen-Zs in the UAE, and its impact on physical and mental health cannot be overlooked,” says Dr Shibib. “I’m seeing more young patients with high cholesterol than ever before due to poor diets and erratic eating habits.”
While the instant gratification of chocolate or crisps may provide temporary relief, Dr Shibib warns that overindulgence can have lasting emotional and physical consequences. “When a person eats to cope with stress or negative emotions, the brain releases dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ hormone,” says Dr Shibib. “This temporary relief reinforces the behaviour, making it a go-to response for emotional distress.
“Over time, the individual craves more high-calorie, sugary or fatty foods to achieve the same dopamine hit, mimicking addiction pathways seen with substances such as alcohol or drugs.”
Awareness and self-compassion
Experts agree that social media has exacerbated the problem, with food indulgence often glamourised as a coping mechanism, creating unhealthy associations between food and emotional relief.
“Social media often promotes an unrealistic and distorted view of food, body image and lifestyle, where indulgence and excess are glorified as forms of self-care or coping,” says Dr Shibib.
“Influencers and celebrities frequently showcase binge-eating or consuming calorie-dense comfort foods as part of their daily routines, which can normalise these behaviours and make them seem appealing or even aspirational. This creates a false association between emotional well-being and unhealthy food choices, reinforcing the idea that eating poorly is acceptable or even desirable in moments of stress.”
In addition to consuming social media more conscientiously, D’Souza says that the first step to overcoming emotional eating is self-compassion “Beating yourself up will only make the cycle worse. Recognising the emotions behind your eating is the first step to breaking free,” says D’Souza who has trained as an emotional eating coach since overcoming her own food battle
“Try replacing eating with another comforting activity – whether it’s journalling, taking a walk, or even calling a friend.
“Remember, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about taking small, consistent steps. The most important thing to know is that you’re not alone, and it’s possible to create a healthier relationship with food.”
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
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Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
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Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
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Director: Jon M Chu
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THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
