Woman develops brain disorder after 15-day water-only diet, doctor says her walk resembles a ‘penguin’
A 31-year-old woman in China developed a serious brain disorder after going on an extreme diet that involved consuming nothing but water for 15 days.The woman developed difficulty walking and memory problems. (Unsplash/Representational image)According to a report the South China Morning Post, the woman, from Henan province, lost around 20 kg within a few weeks. But she later developed difficulty walking and memory problems, with doctors saying that she may never fully recover from difficulties caused the extreme fasting regimen.The woman was reportedly practising “bigu”, a traditional Tao fasting practice that involves abstaining from food. Standing 160 cm tall and weighing 70 kg before the diet, she lost around 20 kg within weeks after drastically restricting her food intake.Doctors at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University diagnosed her with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a serious brain disorder caused severe nutritional deficiency. The condition can cause confusion, problems with balance and coordination, abnormal eye movements and memory impairment.Neurolog Sun Guifang said that the woman’s walking pattern had become similar to that of a “penguin” and warned that the gait problem could potentially be permanent.The doctor attributed the condition to the woman’s extreme diet, stressing that the human body requires regular food intake to obtain essential nutrients. He also cautioned that extreme dieting and prolonged fasting can carry serious health risks.(Also Read:
