A 26-year-old woman from China who wanted to look slim for her best friend’s wedding developed prediabetes, a medical condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, after following a strict diet plan.
The woman, who is based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Southeast China, weighed around 65kg and after trying to lose weight quickly, lost almost 15kg in just two months. Little did she know that the drastic transformation would seriously cost her health.
After being asked to be a bridesmaid, the woman, referred to as Xiaoyu, focused on achieving a slimmer look for the ceremony.
“Devil’s Weight Loss Plan”
To achieve her goal, she devised what she later described as a “diabolical weight loss plan,” according to the South China Morning Post.
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Her diet eradicated staples from her meals, subsisting mainly on small portions of vegetables and chicken breasts. Along with a strict diet, she aggressively pursued high-intensity exercise, sometimes running more than 10 km a day.
In two months, the extreme regimen helped her lose 50 kg just before her wedding.
The body sends warning signals
Although she was initially delighted by the dramatic change, she soon began experiencing troubling symptoms. She felt constantly tired, intensely thirsty and hungry, and suffered from episodes of dizziness and palpitations.
Worried about her condition, she sought medical help at the Endocrinology Department of Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
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Diagnosis of prediabetes
After a series of tests conducted by Associate Chief Medical Officer Cheng Boning, doctors found that Xiaoyu’s fasting blood glucose level and two-hour glucose tolerance exceeded the normal range. The results met the clinical criteria for prediabetes.
Cheng identified serious problems with her approach to weight loss and warned that the methods she followed were dangerously over the top.
The doctor warns of metabolic damage
“She almost completely eliminated carbohydrates from her diet while engaging in high-intensity exercise. This extreme strategy disrupted her insulin secretion, led to significant muscle and water loss, and severely damaged her metabolism,” Cheng told the Post.
He later modified her treatment plan, recommended a return to a balanced diet, and recommended moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with limited anaerobic training.
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After three months of following the revised plan, Xiaoyu’s weight stabilized at a healthier 52.5 kg and her overall condition improved.
Social networks react with shock
The incident sparked heated debate on mainland social media platforms.
One user commented: “I thought brides were the ones going all out, but it turns out the bridesmaids go even harder.”
Another wrote: “Even real brides aren’t that extreme.”
A third questioned the diagnosis, saying: “At 65 kg, the body should still have sufficient fat stores. Cutting carbs usually causes a healthy body to burn fat. How could she develop diabetes? Maybe there were pre-existing problems with the pancreas or early signs of diabetes.”
