Wanting to lose weight, Kerala teen dies after skipping food, surviving on water for 6 months

An 18-year-old girl from Kerala's Thalassery died at a co-operative hospital on Sunday after she had stopped eating properly for six months and survived only on water. The teenager, Sree Nanda, was undergoing treatment at the hospital but succumbed after her condition deteriorated.

According to the doctors, the girl was suffering from anorexia, an eating disorder, and used to follow weight loss diets suggested by online portals. Dr Nagesh Manohar Prabhu, a consultant physician at Thalaserry Co-operative Hospital, said that Sree was brought to the hospital about 12 days ago and was directly admitted to the ICU.

"She was hardly 24 kg, bedridden. Her sugar levels, sodium, and BP were low. She was out on ventilator support. But her condition did not improve, and she succumbed," the doctor told news agency ANI.

Anorexia is an eating disorder causing people to be obsessed about weight and what they eat. People suffering from this condition think they are overweight even when they are not and stop eating to reduce weight. In Sree's case, her condition persisted for about six months, her family and doctors said. She hardly ate anything, and when her family pressured her to eat well, she would pretend to eat but hide the food from them. She would drink only hot water.

About five months ago, she was taken to a hospital where the doctors advised her to eat and recommended a psychiatric consultation for her. Two months ago, Sree was taken to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital where the doctors advised the family to feed her and also recommended a psychiatric consultation.

Two weeks ago, Sree's condition suddenly deteriorated as her blood sugar dropped, and she developed breathing problems. The teen was immediately admitted to Thalaserry Co-operative Hospital, where she succumbed.

(With inputs from ANI)