KABUL (SW) – An overwhelming majority of women interviewed by Salam Watandar said they feel the pain of obesity and unwanted physical appearance after pregnancy. Salam Watandar conducted exclusive interviews with 46 women in 10 provinces on this matter.
In this report, 29 women said that they gained weight due to increased appetite during pregnancy, 6 of them did not have the opportunity to exercise, and 5 of them said that they had genetics issues leading to weight gain. Another 6 women said their appearance changed due to their mood swings during pregnancy, which has caused them to be obese and overweight.
Sahar Ahmadzai, a resident of Kunduz province, who has been married for two years and has a child, says that she felt a greater need for food during pregnancy, and due to her increased appetite, her weight has increased and her body shape changed. She added: “I became very hungry during pregnancy, that’s why I was stressed. I continued to eat a lot, my weight increased, and day by day I gained weight and became fat, and my appearance also changed.”
Farzana Ahadi, also says that she has been married for 11 years and because she had a good appetite during the pregnancy of her three children, now she is overweight and her appearance has changed. Farzana adds: “One of the reasons for my obesity was that I did not follow the diet during pregnancy and I used whatever food was available and other nutritious things and this caused obesity and overweight.”
Rana, a resident of Faryab province, says that two years have passed since her marriage and she has a one-year-old child. She explains the reason for her obesity: “I was thin before marriage, after marriage I became very fat, and the reason for my obesity was that Faryab is a remote province and there are no gyms, sports complex or work facilities for women, and this lack of activity has made me fat.”
Farida, a resident of Takhar province, also stated that not exercising has caused her to gain weight and because of this, she has developed joint disease. “I used to weigh a few kilograms, but now I am 98 kg, which has caused my back pain and leg pain.”
However, Shabana, a resident of Badghis and Arezo, a resident of Jowzjan province, both believe that a comfortable and suitable life after marriage is one of the reasons that caused many changes in their appearance after marriage.
On the other hand, Zofenun, from Takhar province, says that the hardships of life have brought changes to her appearance. She said: “I was thin before marriage, but now I got fat, and others also say that I look fat; but it is due to the effects of anxiety, suffering and sadness.”
Rana, from Kapisa province, believes that changes after giving birth among their families are hereditary and therefore she has also changed after childbirth following other family members.
Confirming the statements of these women, one of the gynaecologists in an interview with Salam Watandar, said that the physical changes in women during and after pregnancy are due to hormonal changes.
Atefa Barekzai, a gynaecologist, says that women can reduce the effects of hormonal changes in their bodies through exercise and healthy nutrition. She adds that a weight gain of up to 12.5 kilograms is normal, and women who are overweight should consult with a nutritionist. She also mentioned that “dietary restrictions are not recommended for women during pregnancy”.
However, health experts say, providing the means of exercise and healthy nutrition can control the effect of these changes. They consider the period of pregnancy and after it to be important and say that changes in appearance are normal due to the increase in hormones, therefore, regular care and healthy nutrition fulfil the needs of the woman’s body.
Psychologists believe that anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum, are two factors that can affect the appearance of women that include weight loss, weight gain and skin changes. Hebatullah Ebrahimkhil, a psychologist, underlined the importance of mental health during pregnancy to reduce these effects.
He added: “The treatment for pregnant women is self-care, that is, paying attention to activities like sports, social relationships, diet. Besides that it is also important to have harmony with the community and family. Conflicts should be avoided and extra medicine should be used very rarely during pregnancy.”
Pregnancy is one of the sensitive periods for women that changes their lives, but the disruption to physical aspects can be challenging for women that has always worried them for various reasons, including unfair standards of beauty, low level of awareness.
