Sreenanda, a first-year undergraduate student at Pazhassi Raja NSS College in Kannur district, had been following an extreme diet for months, drastically reducing her food intake in an attempt to lose weight.

Reports suggest she was surviving mostly on hot water and hiding food from her family. She was initially taken to the Thalassery Co-operative Hospital, later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College, but her condition deteriorated.

Doctors stated that she weighed just 24 kg at the time of admission, with dangerously low blood sugar, sodium levels, and blood pressure. Despite intensive care and ventilator support, she did not recover.

Her tragic case highlights the dangers of online diet trends, eating disorders, and the lack of awareness about anorexia nervosa.

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by an intense fear of weight gain, leading to self-starvation, extreme food restriction, and severe weight loss.

  • People with anorexia have a distorted body image and see themselves as overweight even when dangerously thin.
  • Affected individuals often avoid food, count calories obsessively, and exercise excessively.
  • Studies suggest both genetic and environmental factors, including peer pressure, social media influence, and dieting culture, contribute to anorexia.

The dangers of extreme dieting and online weight loss trends

Experts warn that unverified diet plans from social media and YouTube can be extremely harmful. Many diet trends promote quick weight loss without considering individual health risks, leading to nutritional deficiencies, organ failure, and even death.

Doctors stress that:

  • Extreme calorie restriction can cause irreversible damage to the heart, brain, and digestive system.
  • Fad diets and social media trends can mislead teenagers into unhealthy eating habits.
  • Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders, with a death rate of 8-15%.

How to recognise and prevent eating disorders

Parents, educators, and healthcare professionals must be vigilant about early signs of disordered eating, which include:

  • Rapid weight loss and obsession with dieting
  • Skipping meals or making excuses to avoid eating
  • Hiding or throwing away food
  • Extreme fear of gaining weight
  • Social withdrawal and mood swings

If someone exhibits these symptoms, early intervention is crucial. Professional help, including therapy, nutritional counselling, and medical supervision, can improve outcomes.

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa require professional diagnosis and treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, please seek guidance from a licensed healthcare provider, nutritionist, or mental health professional. If you are in immediate distress, consider reaching out to a local helpline or support group specializing in eating disorders.)