Women have been doing crazy things to lose weight for a long time, and when there’s a long white dress hanging in the wardrobe it often goes to another level. But the latest method to be spruiked by a few unscrupulous doctors would render even a weight loss infomercial star speechless. Yesterday, it was in my news feed on social media. Then it hit my screens, being reported on in news programs and morning television. And still, over 24 hours later, I can’t believe it.
The story goes that over in the States, women are using a new ‘diet’ technique to lose a few pounds quickly, usually in the lead-up to their wedding day. They forego food altogether for ten days, and get their nutrition instead from a special formula delivered via a naso-gastric tube. They get around 800 calories per day, including protein and nutrients but no carbohydrates. Common side effects include halitosis, dizziness, fatigue and constipation.
Now, I am pleased to say that I have heard nothing but disbelief and anger from every commentator who has broached this subject, but my feelings on it go slightly further. It absolutely floors me. Boggles me. Makes me want to get on a plane, find the people doing this and slap them with something large and piscatorial. Sometimes, I think, healthy people can be incredibly stupid.
My expertise on this subject is very personal, and quite involved. Due to an auto-immune disease, combined with some quirks of my internal design, I have had countless naso-gastric tubes, both to feed me and to drain things out of my stomach. I have also tried feeding via a PEJ tube, which is inserted through the wall of your abdomen directly into the upper intestine, and parenteral nutrition, which is administered intravenously. For anyone who even, for a split second, thought this might be an easy way to drop a dress-size, I can tell you categorically it is NOT FUN.
Top Comments
let's hope the grooms are turned on by haliatosis, fatigue and constipation.
What a fun, romantic and sex-filled honeymoon that will be...
Wrong wrong wrong. That is all.