Going to extreme lengths to gain weight
In Mauritania, on the west coast of Africa, women strive to appear 'naturally' obese and it’s taboo to admit to using artificial methods. The traditional way for Mauritanian women to gain weight was through the practice of force feeding. But over the past few years women have started using drugs or even appetite stimulants made for cows. The number of women dying as a result has caused the Mauritanian government to start a campaign on the issue. Catherine Zemmouri reports from the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on the cultural practice known as “belah”. |
