Effects of Force-Feeding Young Girls in Mauritania

Shanyah McCluney

Ideas & Their Expressions II

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Abstract
FORCE-FEEDING IN MAURITANIA

There are many consequences Mauritanian women face when becoming active

participants in Leblouh or Gavage during the country’s rainy season. While the food is plentiful

for the matriarch and their daughters, it is also detrimental towards their physical and mental

health. This paper will explore the effects force-feeding has on young girls who are seeking to

become fat and beautiful. The journey to become a fatter woman starts at a very tender age

while leaving life-changing repercussions. Many Mauritanian men are extremely accepting of the

obese lifestyle the women endure. With few advantages to offer, the practice leaves little room

for positive an outcome.

Introduction

One of the critical components for humans or any living creature on earth to survive is

through the consumption of food. If the world lacked any resources for food, all living creatures

would perish due to starvation. Fortunately, there are a variety of options for humans to choose

from. One of the first selections humans make as baby is through the consumption of milk. As

babies grow older, they able to determine which food they enjoy and the amount of food that

satisfied their hungers. Over time, these children begin to grow through gaining weight.

Generally, if children are too thin or skinny, most parents will encourage them to increase their

food intake. However, suggesting this idea to a child is not merely enough for some parents. In

some parts of the world, mothers believe forcefully feeding your children will make them

beautiful. One of the countries that participates in force feeding young girls is Mauritania. This

practice does not only contribute to health complications, but it also contributes to the

psychological damage of young girls who may be traumatized from undergoing such a

dangerous process. Researchers believe if these Mauritanian girls were educated about obesity
FORCE-FEEDING IN MAURITANIA

and dangers that force feeding poses upon their bodies, it would decrease the amount of

participates in this practice.

Culture of Leblouh/Gavage

Mauritania is a country located in the desert of West Africa with a population of 4.6

million citizens. For the past few years, Mauritania has been known for being one of the poorest

countries in the world. With the oil industry venturing into the country, 50% of the population

are living in urban areas while the off half is condensed into rural regions. In certain parts of

Mauritania, communities come together during the rainy season to celebrate a traditional day

called Leblouh or Gavage. This is when young girls are forcefully fed to purposely and

significantly increase their weight. The earliest practice of Gavage took place between the 11th

and 17th century during the Moors Era. Amongst the social classes, it was believed that the only

way to be beautiful as a woman is to be fat. According to author Layan, “Of it’s 3.2 million

people, one third of Mauritania’s population belongs to the Moor Tribe. Overtime being

overweight became culturally acceptable.” (Layan, 2016).

A fat woman in ancient times was a symbol of a man's wealth and proof to others he had

enough to feed her generously. Even in the 21st Century, this customary belief is still

acknowledged. Researcher Naik Gautum affirms that although the customs are present, it is not

necessarily carried out by everyone. “The practice of “Leblouh” is only systematically practiced

in Mauritania and are participated by families who live in rural areas of the country” (Gautam,

2004). The poverty-stricken communities view this tradition as a way to improve their living

conditions. When the country experiences a dry season, families become desperate to find

resources when experiencing a drought. The quickest way for families to obtain money is by

having their daughters married off. Men are more prone to marry fatter women because
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“Obesity has long been the standard of beauty in Mauritania. Being fat is considered a sign of

wealth, where being thin is a sign of poverty” (Engel,2013). A male contender may view a

women’s smaller figure as a reflection of her inability to eat abundantly. Apart from a fat woman

symbolizing opulence, men value overweight women for their sexual tendencies and comfort

during intercourse.

On a day of Gavage, women congregate under a tent in the desert where ‘fatteners’ or the

mothers force feed their young daughters from sunrise until sunset. The young girls consume

fatty foods such as couscous, chicken, goat, rice, nuts and are forced to swallow it down with a

liter of camel milk. Each meal takes at least three hours to consume, with breakfast being the

biggest meal of the day. Arabian girls between the ages of five and thirten are subjected to these

practices while other African ethnic groups practice force feeding at older ages.

Physical Health Issues from Force-Feeding

The practice of Gavage is severely damaging to the bodies of young Mauritanian women.

When women gain excessive weight at a rapid rate it may further develop additional health

problems. Researchers said, “According to the World Health Organization (WHO),

approximately three million adult deaths occur every year resulting from obesity” (Ouldzeidoune

et al, 2013). Obese women are more at risk of experiencing health conditions such as high blood

pressure, diabetes and hypertension. Some women who are still interested in keeping up with the

Mauritanian beauty standards are practicing a new method called chemical gavage. This is the

process of digesting prescribed medications or other substances to considerably increase a

person’s weight. These drugs are easily accessible and can be found on the streets at local shop

stands. Chemical gavage poses a bigger threat to women because the prescribed drugs could be

steroids that are meant for animals only. Abusing such drugs could be deadly or lead to severe
FORCE-FEEDING IN MAURITANIA

health consequences. After ingesting the medication, women have reported to feel uncontrollably

sick and experience changes in their skin color.

On the other hand, force feeding is not only contributing to health issues, but it is possible

to trigger health disorders. “This, in turn might create a long-term unhealthy relationship with

food and might even develop into eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia” (Mustapha,

2018). Once a person experiences lack of malnutrition on a consistent basis it is possible the

person could potentially suffer from Bulimia or Anorexia. This could weaken the body immunes

system and make it difficult on adolescents who are still adapting to common colds and flu.

Abusive Tradition against Girls

Although Leblouh has been a long-standing tradition, so has the substantial amount of

abuse involved during the process. Some girls have shown disinterest in the tradition, explaining

they don’t agree with the excruciating ceremony. The young girls who don’t have an option to

participate in Gavage, may get tired of eating and refuse to continue. In a obersavation it was

noted that “These girls were force-fed a whole foods diet of up to 16,000 calories, sometimes to

the point of nausea or vomiting” (Sherif, 2016). Refusing to eat the food is seen as an act of

rebellion against the fattener. This in turn leads to punishment if they continue to turn down the

food. When the girls vomit from eating, the fatteners will sometimes force the girls to eat the

vomit. Another attempt to forcefully feed the girls are by tying the girls toes to sticks and

applying pressure. The tight squeeze will send shockwaves of pain through the girl’s feet. In

some cases, the sticks will be placed on the fingers or simply bend the girls fingers backward.

According to The Demographic and Health Survey, over 61% of women who participated in

gavage reported being beaten, while 29% reported having their fingers broken. Although
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fatteners and mothers could be accused of child abuse, it may not be reported because of the

historical presence of the culture.

Psychological Damage

Due to a vast age group of women who’ve experienced gavage, researchers were able to

observe physical and psychological damage. A study done by PLO One researchers Keating

showed a collection evidence on men and women’s attitude toward Leblouh and women's

experiences with the practice. The study has proven “further, the large size of these force-fed

girls creates an illusion that they are physically mature and ready for marriage; this creates the

potential for productive health and psychological problems later in life if the girl has not yet

reached maturity” (Keating et al. 2013). Mauritanian people begin grooming their daughters for

marriage with Leblouh by age nine During this time, the body is still going through the process

of puberty. Girls who participate in early marriages will not be mentally prepared for their new

life. Beyond the focus of maturity, other psychological experiences these girls feel is the torture

endured and after affects. A different studied showed that “As adults, one-third said they now

regretted they had been subjected to overeating. Most cited the health consequences, the

difficulty of walking and the pain they endured while being force-fed”. (Gautam, 2004).

Conclusion

Although the tradition will not disappear, some Mauritanian women are making strides to

maintain a healthier lifestyle. The standard beauty of being “fat” will forever be ingrained in the

country’s culture, but women are finding sufficient ways to appreciate their appearance. After

reviewing the effects of force-feeding, there aren’t many advantages to practicing Gavage. The

abuse and developmental issues that are accompanied after being force-fed for months damage

the quality of life for young girls. The culture of Gavage appears to make women be more
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concerned about their looks rather than their unhealthy lifestyle. If health programs were

accessible to Mauritanian women there is a possibly the country could see a decrease in cases

that involve diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. The awareness of proper health care will

be a determining factor in the survival of the Gavage practice.

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References

Gbenga-Mustapha, O. (2018, March 21). 'Force-feeding children is harmful'. Retrieved from

http://thenationonlineng.net/force-feeding-children-harmful/

Engel, P. (2013, May 23). Women In A Poor West African Country Are Force-Feeding

Themselves For Beauty's Sake. Retrieved from

https://www.businessinsider.com/women-force-feeding-in-mauritania-2013-5

Sherif, L. (2016, November 18). Bad Cultures: Force-feeding young girls for marriage in

Mauritania. Retrieved from https://wordpress.clarku.edu/id125-

womansrightshealth/2016/11/18/bad-cultures-force-feeding-young-girls-for-marriage-

in-mauritania/

Keating, J., Bertrand, J., Rice, J., & Ouldzeidoune, N. (n.d.). A Description of Female

Genital Mutilation and Force-Feeding Practices in Mauritania: Implications for the

Protection of Child Rights and Health. Retrieved from

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0060594

Gautam. N (2004, December, 29) Arab World's Preference For Larger Women Fuels An
Explosion of Obesity; Desire for Status, Sedentary Lifestyles Boost Risks, Trigger
Calls for Change; 'Beauty' Trumps Health in Mauritania. Retrieved from
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