RESEARCHERS in the region have found that Western eating disorders are spreading to African women.

New research carried out jointly by Northumbria University, in Newcastle, and the University of Zululand showed that the waif-like ideals promoted by the West are making black women ill.

The study investigated mental and physical health, eating attitudes and body image among 80 women students, half from rural South Africa and half from Newcastle.

It found that many black South African women were depressed about their weight and were falling victim to the same eating disorders as in the West.

Of those who took part in the research, more than half of the Zulu students were found to have disordered eating attitudes and behaviours - in a country where fat has traditionally been regarded as desirable, with no cases of eating disorders among blacks reported until 1995.

Some Zulu girls were abusing laxatives, fasting and using appetite suppressants. Many avoided certain foods and felt guilty after eating.

"There is a large discrepancy between the traditional female shape and how they feel they ought to look now. They believe they need to be thinner in order to be fashionable and attractive to men," said Julie Seed, senior lecturer in psychology at Northumbria and an expert in eating disorders.

Miss Seed said: "Under these conditions, we might predict an increase in the number of cases of eating disorders over the next few years."

Many women in each group had high levels of anxiety and the Zulu students had high levels of depression as well.

The study also showed that one in five of the British students were underweight and 22 per cent had disordered eating attitudes and behaviours.

Staff from Northumbria now hope to put together a programme for Zulu students to educate them about the dangers of faddy dieting, laxative abuse and diet pills.