For Muslims With Eating Disorders, Ramadan Poses Dilemma

When the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins, a battle rages in Habiba Khanom's mind: If she goes without food or drink, is she doing it for God or because of her anorexia? Deep down she knows the answer, and it saddens her. "If I did fast, it would be for my eating disorder," said Khanom, a 29-year-old London resident. The religious duty that many Muslims find soul-nourishing can, in her case, offer "permission ... to fall back into my old habits and lose weight and kind of not get judged for it because everyone is doing it."