Summary
She told EE: "What is unique for Asian males with eating disorders is the influence of Bollywood. They come home and are surrounded by Asian TV channels. Everybody wants to look like [Salman Khan] or beef up like Hrithik Roshan. Of the Asian boys I have counselled, one was 14. It sounds young, but I get them younger. Because of the Asian culture and importance of food, you cannot get away with anorexia for too long. With bulimia, it is very easy to hide. They can eat everything in large amounts, then stick their finger down their throat and get it out. Or say to their mum they are going out, and start skipping food at home. At school they can easily skip meals."
[Navasothy] is not alone in her quest to highlight the consequences of eating disorders to British Asians. Last week, South Yorkshire Eating Disorders Association (SYEDA) released research by Sheffield Hallam University which showed people of Pakistani origin were more like to have an eating disorder than other ethnic minority groups. The Responding to Diverse Needs: Eating Disorders in BME Communities in Sheffield report called for SYEDA to have more bilingual ethnic minority workers, and provide cultural competence training to all staff.B-Eat is Britain's leading eating disorders charity. A spokeswoman said: "Young people suffering from an eating disorder can become very secretive - they will avoid family meals and social gatherings, possibly develop ritual or obsessive behaviours. Our advice to anyone who feels they may have a problem is to share it with family or friends and seek advice from a GP as soon as possible."See the full content of this document
Extract
A Body to Die For?
BRITISH-Asian boys risk starving themselves to death in an attempt to copy the bodies of Bollywood stars.
Experts have told Eastern Eye that some boys as young as 14 will eat large amounts of curry and rice in front of their parents, then rush to the toilet and shove thei...See the full content of this document
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