Malnutrition

[MWB]

If people in Africa have malnutrition, they invariably have swollen bellies.

Why don't anorexics?

[andy-hughes]

The swollen stomachs you see on film of African children is caused by wind, which distends the stomach, and is caused by a complete absence of digetable food for a long period of time.

Annorexics usually eat food od some decription at reasonably regular intervals, and rarely starve to the level endured by famine victims. They are also unlikely to suffer from dysentary or similar water-borne diseases which also infect famine victims.

[hc4361]

It is nothing to do with wind. It is a symptom of malnutrition called Kwashiorkor. Children with this often develop anorexia too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor