The perils of mindlessly adhering to extreme diet trends, especially those that are promoted on social media, are brought to light by a startling catastrophe. After completing an intense water fasting regimen inspired by internet portals, an 18-year-old girl from Thalassery, Kerala, passed away from anorexia nervosa-related complications.
 
Twelve days before her death, the young girl, who had been fasting for almost six months, was taken to Thalassery Co-operative Hospital's intensive care unit.
 
The hospital's consultant physician, Dr. nagesh Manohar Prabhu, said, "She was bedridden and only 24 kg.  Her blood pressure, salt, and sugar were all dangerously low.  Her condition did not improve with ventilator support, and she passed away.

According to doctors, the child had been suffering from an eating disorder and a fixation with losing weight for more than five months. She hid her eating habits from her family and mostly survived on hot water throughout that time.
 
Obsessive fear of gaining weight is a hallmark of anorexia nervosa, a severe eating illness.  People who are underweight but believe they are overweight engage in risky behaviors like restricting their food intake or, in extreme situations, giving up all meals altogether.
 
The dangers of severe diets, particularly when followed without medical supervision, are highlighted by this catastrophe.
 
Water fasting and crash diets have become well-liked but extremely dangerous ways to lose weight quickly.  Experts warn against these methods, emphasizing that they may result in serious health issues.

THE HIDDEN DANGERS
Crash diets can result in long-term health consequences and are not sustainable, according to Deepti Khatuja, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon.
 
"Unhealthy weight loss, exhaustion, weakened immunity, and even eating disorders are the outcomes of crash dieting.  It can lead to disorders including anxiety, despair, and premature aging, as well as disrupt brain function and electrolyte imbalances.  These diets may appear affordable and provide immediate benefits, but they have a huge negative impact on general health, she told india Herald.

Reshma Aleem, Senior Clinical Dietician at Rela Hospital in Chennai, also emphasized the dangers of the girl's diet, which involved water fasting.
 
She referred to it as the "zero-calorie diet," which is frequently followed for spiritual or weight loss purposes.  Aleem went on to say that water fasting operates on the autophagic principle, which recycles and repairs damaged cells.  But it's not appropriate for everyone.  A water diet should not be continued for longer than 24 to 72 hours without medical supervision.  If done for an extended length of time, it is risky," she stated.

Dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and major health concerns can result from water fasting for longer than 72 hours, especially if not under medical supervision.  People who already have diabetes, eating disorders, gout, or other pre-existing diseases are especially at risk.
 
Aleem promoted moderate physical activity and balanced nutrition as a long-term, healthful way to lose weight.
 
Sometimes we give them a 500-calorie deficit diet each day to help them lose 0.5 kg of weight per week, or we restrict a small amount of carbohydrates to help them lose weight.  "It is ideal to lose no more than 2 kg of weight per month," Aleem stated.
 
 

 
 
 
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G GOWTHAM

11/03/2025 12:14 PM