A 31-year-old woman from central China’s Henan province lost about 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in just a few weeks after following a water-only diet for 15 days, but was left with severe difficulties walking, according to the South China Morning Post.
The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was 1.60 meters tall and weighed 70 kilograms before the diet. She practiced “bigu,” a Taoist fasting practice associated with ideas of transcendence and immortality.
After consuming only water for two weeks, she also experienced memory problems. Neurologist Sun Guifang, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, diagnosed her with Wernicke encephalopathy, a serious neurological disorder linked to deficiencies of essential vitamins and folate.
The condition can cause confusion, balance problems, abnormal eye movements and memory impairment.
Sun said the woman’s way of walking resembled that of a penguin and warned that the problem could potentially be permanent. It remains unclear whether she will fully recover her normal ability to walk.
