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Chinese woman, 31, faces lifelong walking issues after water-only diet cuts 20kg in weeks

A woman from central China undertook a fasting regimen for half a month and lost 20kg, but ultimately suffered from a serious brain disorder from…

By Samantha Johnson / August 25, 2026

A woman from central China undertook a fasting regimen for half a month and lost 20kg, but ultimately suffered from a serious brain disorder from which she may never fully recover.

The 31-year-old woman from Henan province, who wishes to remain anonymous, was recently reported by local media to have developed walking difficulties and memory deterioration after consuming nothing but water for 15 consecutive days.

Standing at 160 cm tall, the woman, previously weighing 70kg, managed to shed 20kg in mere weeks due to her extreme diet.

According to neurologist Sun Guifang from The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the woman was diagnosed with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a severe brain disorder resulting from a deficiency of essential vitamins and folic acid.

This medical condition can lead to symptoms such as confusion, balance issues while walking, eye movement disorders, and memory impairment.

The extreme diet resulted in confusion, balance issues, eye movement disorders, and memory impairment. Photo: Shutterstock
The extreme diet resulted in confusion, balance issues, eye movement disorders, and memory impairment. Photo: Shutterstock

Sun noted that the woman’s gait resembled that of a penguin, and he warned that this symptom might never be resolved.

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