Slim in Sudan

[Evil Eye]

For centuries, female fleshiness has been prized in Sudan, with women encouraged to be plump. But many Sudanese women now aspire to being slim - and gyms are taking off in a big way.

Inside a large sweaty hall, about 20 women are taking an aerobics class. US dance-pop music blares from the speakers.

You could be in just about any city in the world. Only there is not a man in sight.

Sudan is a conservative country and just a few years ago, this kind of scene would have been virtually unthinkable.

"Many more people want to exercise," says fitness trainer Amal Ahmed.

"They all want to be slim… They want to slim their tummy," she adds.

Sama Style health club is in an upmarket area of Khartoum. It's one of about 30 gyms that have sprung up in the capital in the past few years - most of them aimed exclusively at women.

The gym also has a swimming pool, treadmills, bikes and other exercise machines - but nothing beats aerobics for losing weight, says Ahmed.

Demand is high, and classes are full.

"Married women, young ladies, all ages come," she says. "They love it."

Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22455559


Sounds like they're joining us in anorexia.
Nonetheless, I think it's an interesting shift in culture.