The pressure to conform to model-measurements is taking its toll on many young women in Russia. Anorexia is on the rise and there's only one clinic in the country specialising in the eating disorder. Doctors are calling for greater education and awareness

The stereotypical image of Russian women is immaculately dressed, slim, and glamorous, but that image can come at a price.

At 34 kg Irina is dramatically underweight but says she‘s already much better than before.

“All I could think about was food. I wasn’t interested in things like friends or romance. It all faded back. The illness was eating me like a monster,” Irina says.

At the clinic the girls are made to face their fears, eating regular meals and getting the psychological support they need.

“It’s a paranoia and an obsession. Some of those girls have never even been plump, but they get the idea that they have to lose weight and become perfect. So we use all the means to cure it,” doctor Andrey Brukhin says.

But with only seven beds at the clinic, most girls in Russia have to cope with their illness alone.

One of them is 16-year-old Polina. She says she used to be hysterical about food and was always angry or depressed.

Looking back at old photographs she admits she still hates  the way she used to look.

“I will always watch what I eat [now] but I won’t overstep the limit. You have to overpower yourself and start eating because otherwise you get used to starving yourself,” Polina says.

The reasons for anorexia nervosa are complex – a combination, in many cases, of family pressure, bad relationships or simply wanting more control. There’s no denying that television, fashion models and girls in magazines play a role also.

But Ilya Bezugly from Maxim magazine says Russian women view being beautiful as an investment in their future.

“In Russia women aren’t that financially independent. They’re not equally paid and not interested in getting a job. The girls dream is to get the right guy, who will pay rent at least, or marry her or take care of her and the kids,” Bezugly says.