It’s shocking that in a country tackling an obesity epidemic we are also seeing a rise in eating disorders. I hope by highlighting this problem sufferers will be able to seek help. Karen, Editor

The article on eating disorders was an interesting read (‘The rise of eating disorders in the UAE’, September 12). I was really surprised to know that so many teenagers these days suffer from problems like anorexia and bulimia. I hope the feature succeeds in spreading awareness among adolescents who don’t know that starving themselves to look skinnier or binge-eating for satisfaction can have serious consequences on their mental and physical health.

I hope those suffering from these kinds of disorders seek professional

Ifound the article ‘Why we begged doctors to give our four-year-old son weight-loss surgery’ (September 12) informative as it highlighted the impact of Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder that makes the patient feel hungry perennially.

I was incredibly impressed that Rishi’s parents never gave up hope and ensured that he got the best treatment possible so that he is able to walk, run, play and have a good night’s sleep just like any other child.

I hope Rishi grows up to lead a normal, healthy life.

The feature on generalized anxiety disorder and effective ways to control it (‘Are you suffering from GAD?’ September 12) was very relevant. Studies have shown people suffering from GAD worry excessively and uncontrollably about a wide range of situations and issues and often suffer from fatigue, sleep deprivation and irritability, which can have a detrimental effect on their overall well-being. Worry and anxiety are truly overwhelming.

Though anxiety is widespread in today’s fast-paced world, one can overcome it with some introspection and effective medical treatment.