Eating Disorders in India: Hindi Film Star Opens Up About Battle with Bulimia

Eating disorders do not discriminate. They can affect anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. However, the stigma and social misunderstandings surrounding eating disorders often lead to misdiagnosis, shame, and a general unwillingness to seek professional help.

Richa Chadda, a Hindi film actress based out of New Delhi, is speaking on her own personal experience with an eating disorder to lessen the stigma and encourage others, particularly throughout India, to reach out for help.

“The Best Kept Secret”

A recent TEDx Talk at Delhi Technological University in New Delhi, India, in April 2016 featured Chadda sharing her past history of bulimia nervosa. Chadda is best known for her roles in Gangs of Wasseypur and Fly Away Solo.

Chadda states that she was a happy, confident young woman before moving to Bombay to pursue an acting career. She states, “We all admire ourselves and then criticize ourselves, but actors have it a lot worse.” This is largely due to the great amount of rejection actors face on a daily basis.

When first starting out in the film industry, Chadda was told by various people to gain weight, lose weight, grow her hair out, get eyelash extensions, wear Spanx, and have plastic surgery on her nose, lips, and breasts. She explains that she was not prepared for this kind of pressure and began to feel depressed and “unworthy,” leading to her development of bulimia nervosa. When she was actively engaging in her eating disorder, Chadda had “…no energy or zest for life left.”

As Chadda states, “Eating disorders are the best kept secret in the film industry.” We already know that eating disorders are common in Hollywood, but it is so important that diverse actors from across the world come forward as Chadda has to reduce the stigma and change the face of eating disorders worldwide.

Eating Disorders in India

The true prevalence of eating disorders throughout India is unknown due to the minimal research conducted on disordered eating in this part of the world. A large factor in this lack of research is the strong cultural stigma surrounding mental health issues in general, particularly in rural parts of the country.

Dr. KK Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), reports that eating disorders among younger generations throughout India are on the rise. However, he explains, these individuals rarely seek professional medical or psychological help.

Awareness is often an effective first step in reducing stigma and cultural climates surrounding mental health issues. Dr. Aggarwal concurs, recommending increased education on eating disorders within the medical community, as well as educating parents on signs to watch for indicating their children might be at risk. These actions have the potential to be extremely effective in changing regional attitudes toward eating disorders.

Prachi Kandayparker, a child psychologist, has dedicated her work to increasing awareness of mental health issues among teachers throughout rural India. In these parts of the country, Kandayparker explains, parents and teachers often turn to spiritual and religious remedies for children over professional medical or mental health support.

While these spiritual avenues can also be an important part of an individual’s recovery from an eating disorder, Kandayparker hopes to raise awareness for the importance of professional treatment in addressing mental health issues. She works through Sangath, a non-profit organization that promotes awareness for mental health disorders and advocates for affordable healthcare in community settings.

In addition to organizations such as Sangath, there are select individual providers throughout India who specialize in eating disorder recovery.

Working Toward Change

Richa Chadda, Dr. KK Aggarwal, and Prachi Kandayparker all share a similar message that eating disorders and related mental health issues can no longer be ignored throughout India. These are very real, life-threatening conditions that need to be recognized so that the long-standing shame surrounding them can finally dissolve.

This will not happen overnight, but raising awareness and educating populations throughout India on the realities of eating disorders is an important first step. Brave testimonials from well-respected, high-profile individuals, such as Chadda, can also greatly decrease the stigma surrounding eating disorders and the populations affected.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, know that you are not alone. Reach out for help today.

About the Author: Courtney Howard graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. from San Diego State University, holds a paralegal certificate in Family Law, and is a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate. After obtaining her certification as a life coach, Courtney launched Lionheart Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching in 2015 and continues to be a passionate advocate for awareness and recovery.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on August 4, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com