Excess dieting causing anaemia among urban women: Doctors

The size-zero syndrome and severe dieting is leading to increasing cases of anaemia among urban women. Despite having the best of facilities and knowledge, about 51% women in the age group of 15-49 years suffer from anaemia.

Anaemia, traditionally, has been found more prevalent among rural women than their urban counterparts. Of late, increasing numbers of anaemic cases have been found in urban areas as well. Doctors blame it on bad eating habits and lack of proper diet.

“Women lose around 60-80 ml of blood every month.

Considering this, they should be more careful about their diet and ensure that they take proper nutritious food.

However, often I see young women starving themselves in order to lose weight,” says Dr D Prasad, consultant, internal medicine, BGS Global Hospitals.

In India, about 51% women suffer from anaemia, of which 18 is the percentage of women suffering from the ailment in urban areas. “Most urban women are working these days.

Hence, they do not have the time to cook by themselves or have food at the right time,” says Dr Anjum Mulla, associate consultant, OBG, Apollo Hospitals, adding that more than 60% of pregnant women who visit her suffer from anaemia.

“Iron and folic acid deficiency are the main reasons behind anaemia. The sad part is that urban women, despite having access and knowledge about healthy food habits, end up eating junk food most of the time,” says Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Health Enterprises.

To address issues related to pregnancy, Manipal Hospital has opened a woman and child care centre.

Experts say that having iron-rich diet is not enough to improve haemoglobin levels in one’s body. What is needed is food that helps in absorption of iron in body. “Consumption of Vitamin C, folic acid is important for absorption of iron in body.

Pregnant women should take special care of their diet,” says Mulla.