16-year-old eats only veggies, laxatives for 2 weeks to fit into birthday dress, hospitalised

For two weeks, the girl reportedly ate only small portions of vegetables and laxatives, all to fit into her birthday dress. (Representational image: Unsplash)

A 16-year-old girl, identified only as Mei, from central China’s Hunan province, recently underwent a 12-hour emergency medical procedure after her extreme diet aimed at fitting into a new birthday dress led to a critical health condition.

For two weeks, Mei reportedly consumed only small portions of vegetables and laxatives, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. This dangerous regimen caused her to suddenly lose strength in her limbs and experience severe shortness of breath, after which she was rushed to a hospital, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Medical examinations revealed that Mei’s blood potassium levels had plummeted to dangerously low levels, resulting in a serious case of hypokalemia. Dr Peng Min, Mei’s doctor at Hunan People’s Hospital, highlighted the grave dangers of this condition, stating it can lead to respiratory failure and sudden cardiac arrest. Dr Li, from another hospital in Hunan, also explained that an unbalanced diet and dehydration are common causes for a drop in the body’s potassium levels.

Mei’s experience serves as a stark warning about the severe risks associated with extreme dieting practices, particularly among young individuals. To maintain healthy potassium levels, Dr Peng advised a balanced diet that includes foods like potatoes, chicken, and bananas, along with sufficient daily water intake.

The teen's health has since returned to normal, and she was recently discharged from the hospital. She has promised to never again resort to extreme methods for weight loss.

Similar incidents
Last year, a 26-year-old Chinese man was also hospitalised with hypokalemia, SCMP reported. He took up intermittent fasting to lose weight, and would eat only during an eight-hour window each day despite exercising heavily daily.

In 2021, a 38-year-old woman who was trying to lose weight by drinking a large amount of water, was also hospitalised in China.