Editing Eating disorder (section)

===== African perspective =====
In the majority of many African communities, thinness is generally not seen as an ideal body type and most pressure to attain a slim figure may stem from influence or exposure to Western culture and ideology. Traditional African cultural ideals are reflected in the practice of some health professionals; in Ghana, pharmacists sell appetite stimulants to women who desire to, as Ghanaians stated, "grow fat".<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Keel PK, Klump KL |s2cid=7683812 |title=Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology |journal=Psychological Bulletin |volume=129 |issue=5 |pages=747–69 |date=September 2003 |pmid=12956542 |doi=10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.747}}</ref> Girls are told that if they wish to find a partner and birth children they must gain weight. On the contrary, there are certain taboos surrounding a slim body image, specifically in West Africa. Lack of body fat is linked to poverty and [[HIV/AIDS]].<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |vauthors=Coetzee V, Faerber SJ, Greeff JM, Lefevre CE, Re DE, Perrett DI |title=African perceptions of female attractiveness |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=7 |issue=10 |page=e48116 |date=2012-10-29 |pmid=23144734 |pmc=3483252 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0048116 |bibcode=2012PLoSO...748116C |doi-access=free}}</ref>

However, the emergence of Western and European influence, specifically with the introduction of such fashion and modelling shows and competitions, is changing certain views among body acceptance, and the prevalence of eating disorders has consequently increased.<ref name=":2" /> This acculturation is also related to how South Africa is concurrently undergoing rapid, intense urbanization. Such modern development is leading to cultural changes, and professionals cite rates of eating disorders in this region will increase with urbanization, specifically with changes in identity, body image, and cultural issues.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Freeman AC, Szabo CP |date=2005 |title=Eating Disorders in South African Males: A Review of the Clinical Presentation of Hospitalised Patients |journal=South African Journal of Psychology |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=601–622 |doi=10.1177/008124630503500401 |s2cid=144551239}}</ref> Further, exposure to Western values through private Caucasian schools or caretakers is another possible factor related to acculturation which may be associated with the onset of eating disorders.<ref name=":9">{{cite journal |vauthors=Davis C, Yager J |title=Transcultural aspects of eating disorders: a critical literature review |journal=Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=377–94 |date=September 1992 |pmid=1395702 |doi=10.1007/BF00052156 |s2cid=40864146}}</ref>

Other factors which are cited to be related to the increasing prevalence of eating disorders in African communities can be related to sexual conflicts, such as psychosexual guilt, first sexual intercourse, and pregnancy. Traumatic events which are related to both family (i.e. parental separation) and eating related issues are also cited as possible effectors.<ref name=":9" /> Religious fasting, particularly around times of stress, and feelings of self-control are also cited as determinants in the onset of eating disorders.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Taylor JY, Caldwell CH, Baser RE, Faison N, Jackson JS |title=Prevalence of eating disorders among Blacks in the National Survey of American Life |journal=The International Journal of Eating Disorders |volume=40 |issue=Suppl |pages=S10-4 |date=November 2007 |pmid=17879287 |pmc=2882704 |doi=10.1002/eat.20451}}</ref>