An 18-year-old girl from Kannur, Kerala, tragically passed away after following an extreme weight-loss diet from YouTube that consisted almost entirely of water. The youngster named Sreenanda, who hails from Koothuparamba, was on a ventilator at the Thalassery Co-operative Hospital for a few days before she lost her life. According to Dr Nagesh Prabhu, physician at the Thalassery Co-operative Hospital who treated her, Sreenanda was suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder in which a patient has a strong fear of gaining weight. "She was almost starving and was on a water diet. I guess the troublesome eating pattern started around six months ago, and one of my colleagues advised her people to seek further help to fix the issue. However, guess they weren't aware of its seriousness and downplayed it as a condition of a youngster not having enough food," explains the doctor. He adds that while Anorexia Nervosa is common in the West, it's quite rare in Kerala. 

The condition kills hunger
Those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa often lose their sense of hunger over time, explains Dr Nagesh. The causes of Anorexia Nervosa aren't known, according to the Mayo Clinic, and a mix of factors, including mental health, genetic changes and even environmental factors, can cause the condition. It can apparently affect all gender identities, races, ages and body types as well. The doctor explains that in Sreenanda's case, sodium and sugar levels were also dropping and continued to decline even after correction. 

The psychological aspect
Anorexia Nervosa is not purely an eating disorder. It's also a psychological condition, and therefore, the patient should have taken psychiatric treatment a long time ago, says Dr Nagesh. According to the Cleveland Clinic, depending on the type of eating disorder, the treatment for it will require psychotherapy, medications, nutrition counseling, once-a-week counseling and also hospitalisation. Recovery is possible if treated on time. However, such disorders do not get cured overnight. Depending on the severity and length of time one suffered, the recuperation can take time. Patients can notice they feel significantly better and worse before they start feeling better, which is normal. Regardless, the key to recovery is sticking to the treatment plan charted out by the healthcare provider. 

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