Full figures: Obesity is widespread among girls as a standard of beauty in Cameroon
Written by: Ayman Ragab
The trend of having a fuller figure has gained widespread popularity among some young women in recent years, who consider it a standard of beauty and attractiveness. Some resort to consuming harmful chemicals or using products promoted on social media to achieve this look, despite repeated warnings about their health risks.
full figure
In Cameroon, a full figure is traditionally seen as a symbol of health and fertility, which drives some women to strive to achieve it by any means, even at the expense of their health.
Pharmacist and pharmacovigilance expert, Dr. Mbuy Mbuh Morris, said that some girls resort to injecting chemicals or using drugs in doses exceeding the recommended limits, while others rely on mixtures sold through unreliable networks, with the aim of achieving a fuller figure.
He explained that these practices could lead to serious health damage, including temporary memory loss, confusion, and heart complications that, with prolonged use, could develop into death.
The impact of social media in entrenching the phenomenon
For her part, clinical psychologist Genevieve Fabiola Belle warned of the increasing influence of social media in entrenching this phenomenon, noting that many girls seek to imitate influencers who appear attractive and lead perfect lives, which leads them to risk their health in order to achieve the same look.
She added that confronting this phenomenon requires serious intervention, calling for measures to limit the negative impact of social media and raise awareness of the health risks associated with these practices.
