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Sreenanda had been skipping meals and excessively exercising out of an intense fear of weight gain
A teenager from Kerala’s Kannur district died following health complications caused by severe dietary restrictions and prolonged starvation. According to news reports, 18-year-old Sreenanda from Koothuparamba passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital, where she was put on ventilator support.
Her relatives said Sreenanda, an undergraduate college student, had been skipping meals and excessively exercising out of an intense fear of weight gain. She was also following diet plans suggested by a few online platforms and had been surviving only on water—till she reached a state of extreme starvation.
Doctors at the hospital where she was being treated suspect that Sreenanda was suffering from anorexia nervosa—an eating disorder that causes a severe and strong fear of gaining weight. According to experts, the condition is a serious medical illness that makes you obsess about your weight and food, leading to a distorted body image. You may see yourself as overweight even though you have a very low body weight.
A relative of Sreenanda also said she had been hiding the food given to her by her parents and surviving only on hot water. About five months ago, she was taken to a hospital, where doctors advised her family to ensure she ate properly and sought psychiatric consultation.
Two months ago, she was again hospitalised for some tests, after which the doctors reiterated the need for nutritional care and psychiatric support. However, her health continued to deteriorate.
Two weeks ago, her blood sugar dropped significantly, and she experienced severe breathing difficulties. “She was hardly 24 kg, bedridden. Her sugar levels, sodium, and blood pressure were extremely low. She was put on ventilator support, but her condition did not improve, and she succumbed,” said Dr. Nagesh Manohar Prabhu, a consultant physician at Thalassery Co-operative Hospital.
Extreme side effects of fad diets
Any plan or diet that forces you to starve yourself and significantly under-eat will allow you to lose weight. Many of these quick-fix plans promote consuming lots of nutrient-dense foods such as veggies and fruits, and, of course, this is beneficial. However, cutting out lots of other food groups or following a restrictive diet could be harmful in the long run.
Crash diets can lead to eating disorders or ultimately result in weight gain. Here are a few reasons why fad and extreme diets are a bad idea:
- Can get you addicted to starvation
- Can cause your body to go into binge eating
- You may choose to comfort eat or emotionally eat because you may be extremely hungry.
- Negatively impacts your physical health
- You may socially isolate yourself
- You may end up having very obsessive thoughts about food, your body, or your weight.
What causes anorexia?
Anorexia is a complex condition with no single cause. According to studies, a combination of certain factors might be responsible, like:
Genetics
Studies say around 50-80 per cent of the risk of developing an eating disorder is genetic.
Brain changes
Changes in brain chemistry play an important role, particularly changes to your brain’s reward system and balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which affect appetite, mood, and impulse regulation.
Trauma
According to experts, eating disorders happen when someone attempts to cope with overwhelming feelings and painful emotions by having intense control over something else.
Peer pressure
For many children and adolescents, peer pressure can be a very powerful force. Experiencing teasing or bullying because of appearance or weight can contribute to the development of anorexia.
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