Did you know?

In some culture obesity is regarded as a sign of wealth and success.

Obesity & Culture

In Mauritania for example, women who are fat are considered sexy, beautiful and wealthy.  Women  are encouraged to put on weight.  There is a practice, less common now, called “gavage”where young girls are fed copious amount of fatty camel milk daily.  Drastic measures are sometimes used to induce appetite to keep on the weight on.  Taking animal steroids and  antihistamine tablets are common.

The French Polynesian of Tahiti revered the rounded  faces and bodies of their women; these are considered  a sign of beauty and fertility.  To this day ha’apori, literally meaning “to fatten,” young women is still being practised.  The diet rich in carbohydrates and coconut products is good at keeping the weight on.