March 10, 2025: In a tragic incident highlighting the dangers of extreme dieting, an 18-year-old girl from Kerala’s Kannur district lost her life after prolonged starvation driven by an intense fear of weight gain. The deceased, identified as Sreenanda from Koothuparamba, succumbed to health complications while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Thalassery.
Sreenanda, a first-year undergraduate student at Mattannur Pazhassiraja NSS College, had reportedly been following online diet plans that promoted severe food restrictions. According to her family, she had been skipping meals, surviving on a water-only diet, and excessively exercising, leading to extreme malnutrition. Her deteriorating health over the past five to six months had raised concerns among her relatives, who discovered that she was hiding food given to her.
Medical professionals suspect that Sreenanda was suffering from anorexia nervosa, a severe eating disorder characterized by an obsessive fear of weight gain. Experts have noted a rise in such cases, especially post-Covid, as social media and online platforms continue to propagate unhealthy weight-loss trends.
She had previously been taken to Kozhikode Medical College, where doctors warned her family about the critical need for nutritional care and psychiatric support. Despite medical advice, her health continued to decline. Two weeks ago, a severe drop in blood sugar levels and breathing difficulties led to her admission to Thalassery Co-operative Hospital, where she was placed on ventilator support.
Dr. Nagesh Manohar Prabhu, a consultant physician at the hospital, stated that Sreenanda weighed only 24 kg at the time of admission and was in a critical condition with dangerously low blood sugar, sodium, and blood pressure levels. Despite medical intervention, she did not recover and passed away.
The incident raises concerns about the growing influence of unverified online dieting trends, which often promote unhealthy and unrealistic body standards. Medical professionals urge families and young individuals to seek proper guidance and consult healthcare experts before following any weight-loss programs.