Many people suffer from thinness, which leads some to use formulations they are unaware of regarding their dangers or negative effects, especially among women preparing for marriage. Recently, "unknown source" formulations treating thinness have spread in Egypt, touted as the "magic wand" for all problems.
However, the Egyptian Medicines Authority issued a strong and strict warning regarding these formulations, emphasizing the dangers of using corticosteroids to treat thinness. The authority highlighted in its statement that "the danger of using corticosteroids revolves around causing weakened immunity, menstrual irregularities in women, increased acne, and facial hair, and it negatively affects diabetes and high blood pressure patients."
The Egyptian Medicines Authority stressed that corticosteroids should not be used without medical supervision, pointing out that they should only be used for authorized therapeutic purposes and clarified that weight drops again for patients as soon as they stop taking corticosteroids.
### Medical Misconceptions
Pharmacist and certified health coach, Eman Jamal, stated that "corticosteroids are medications prescribed to treat inflammatory conditions, but one of the most common and harmful side effects, as demonstrated by a study, is the associated weight gain due to excessive use."
Jamal, in exclusive statements to Sky News Arabic, noted that "corticosteroids cause weight gain by altering water balance in the body, in addition to their effect on metabolism, which is how the body uses and stores fats, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and glucose."
She explained that corticosteroids contribute to weight gain through: "increased appetite, fluid retention, changing the fat storage locations, resulting in more fat accumulating in the abdomen, face, and neck."
Regarding their increased use recently for weight gain and treating thinness, she said: "Corticosteroids are more associated with allergic cases, skin diseases, colon issues, arthritis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and respiratory disorders."
Jamal continued: "There are other side effects of corticosteroids, including thyroid disorders, high blood sugar, and weakened immunity, but what is common among many is solely the increase in weight."
She added: "Nutrition specialists rely on the Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether a person's rate is normal or if they suffer from thinness, overweight, or obesity, as this measure compares a person's weight to their height, making it an easy way to determine healthy weight from obesity."
### Thinness in Women and Men
About the rates of thinness among both genders, she said: "Thinness differs between men and women, although recent statistics indicate that the rate of thinness among women is higher than among men."
She emphasized that "there are many medical reasons associated with the difference in thinness between genders, including immune system factors, incorrect dietary habits since childhood, genetic factors, severe anemia or hyperthyroidism, psychological illnesses like depression, and certain gastrointestinal disorders that prevent proper absorption of digested food."
The health coach advised staying away from pressures and psychological issues, getting sun exposure to stimulate appetite, and regularly exercising.
She concluded by stating: "The idea of using corticosteroids to treat thinness is a wrong notion. For anyone who wants to gain weight, they should follow a healthy diet rich in carbohydrates and protein to maintain existing muscle mass and improve fat distribution. Proper nutrition and increasing meal frequency are essential factors in treating thinness."
