Stop starving yourself to lose weight, nutritionist tells women
A Clinical Nutritionist at the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Susan Holdbrooke, has urged women to stop depriving themselves of healthy foods because they want to lose weight.
The diet expert noted that women depriving themselves of food to lose weight are at risk of short and long-term health risks, noting that they are starving their body tissues of important nutrients.
The nutritionist stated that the women who are not well fed may also end up with eating disorders and hormonal imbalance.
According to her, when teenage ladies starve themselves of healthy foods because they don’t want to add weight, they have eating disorders like Anorexia nervosa.
Speaking in an interview, Holdbrooke stressed that eating disorders such as Anorexia nervosa comes with lots of health consequences.
Mayo Clinic – a medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research says Anorexia nervosa — often simply called anorexia — is an eating disorder characterised by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight.
Also, a 2020 study published in Science Daily says girls with anorexia nervosa can have stunted growth and may not reach their full height potential.
Speaking with our correspondent, the nutritionist said, “A girl can starve herself to the point of dying without knowing that she is starving the body tissue of food.
“Now, at the end of the day, she will be grossly malnourished.
“A woman can also suffer from Amenorrhea – she will not be able to see her menses because of starvation. If you are not eating well, there will be a hormonal imbalance.”
“When you starve yourself, you are actually destroying tissues in your body and the body will continue to take the little that is available.
“Those starving themselves to look slim, skimpy, or trying to be a model are doing themselves more harm than good.”
Holdbrooke stated that the lack of fatty cells will lead to disruption of menstrual flow and ovulation circle because it will affect the follicle-stimulating hormone as well as the utilising stimulating hormone.
According to her, there are the immediate physical effects of women depriving themselves of food as the body struggles to function without the nutrients and fuel that it needs.
She urged women to maintain good eating habits at all times and not allow the quest to look slim to expose them to problems that could jeopardise their health.
She warned that malnutrition also contributes to cases of miscarriage among women.
