Dieting can lead to bulimia

Nov 16, 2004

Dieting is common among women aged 17 and above. If over done, the result may be a disease called bulimia says Dr Charles Mugisha, a consultant nutritionist with House of Health. People with bulimia show symptoms such as loss of appetite for food, worrying about every extra pound gained and conseque

By Harriet Birungi

Dieting is common among women aged 17 and above. If over done, the result may be a disease called bulimia says Dr Charles Mugisha, a consultant nutritionist with House of Health. People with bulimia show symptoms such as loss of appetite for food, worrying about every extra pound gained and consequently forcing oneself to vomit every after a meal.

Being slim has become every woman’s goal, obsession and yardstick for beauty. It is achieved using various methods like slimming tablets, chinese tea herbs, slimming soaps and intense dieting.

“Whatever the method, the motive is what matters. Many women slim because of cosmetic or beauty reasons.

They think being slim is the yardstick for beauty and attractiveness. Others do it because of peer pressure and as a prerequisite of acceptance into a particular group,” Mugisha says.

He adds that in the medical profession, it is only advised for medical reasons and for persons above the normal ideal body percentage of 10-20 per cent.

“overweight people with a measure of over 100kg are obese since their body percentage is 30.

This is an alarming situation since they are prone to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers and arthritis, that make joint movement painfully impossible,” Mugisha says.

For such people, dieting is mandatory prior to medication.

Mugisha also said there were certain professions that required slimming in order to be well done. For instance, an athlete slims so as to have a body fit for running.

This does not mean that they should starve by taking water only, but rather eat foods that don’t give more calories than they need.
Dieting can have repercussions that can be very detrimental to your health. For ladies, it reduces the tissue that is good for normal baby growth since the body of such a woman is under nourished.

This may result in giving birth to a malnourished and under weight baby.

The immune system of such a child will be too weak to fight diseases. Worse still, a thin woman may give birth to a premature baby whose chances of survival are minimal.
Dieting may deprive the body of nutrients necessary for proper body, bone and brain growth.

A person undertaking a diet is susceptible to fainting, becoming anaemic, having memory relapses, pale skin, stunted growth and a poor immune system.

Mugisha, however, said the best way of slimming is through having a modified diet.

-l That is cut down on the amount of animal fat and protein as they have high levels of cholesterol.

- Exercise regularly to improve body performance so as to have a better heart, strong bones and right levels of blood pressure.

- Avoid certain types of food, especially the processed or refined foods, soft drinks and refined sugar.

- Take appropriate or mixed foods (balanced diet) and enough sleep to reduce stress.

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