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Chinese woman, 31, faces lifelong walking issues after water-only diet cuts 20kg in weeks
Woman follows ‘bigu,’ a Taoist fasting technique based on the belief that it can lead to transcendence and immortality
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Fran Luin Beijing
Published: 11:41am, 25 Aug 2026
Updated: 11:42am, 25 Aug 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
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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