Chinese Woman Suffers Pancreatitis After 6-Day Starvation, Binge-Eating Once Weekly
Author: Alice Yan in Shanghai Published: 9:00am, 12 Jun 2026
A 25-year-old woman in China has been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis after following an extreme weight-loss regime that involved eating once a week and hardly eating for the remaining six days.
The Extreme Diet
The woman, who uses the alias Qingqing and lives in Hangzhou, eastern Zhejiang province, is 1.55m tall and previously weighed 55kg. Months ago, she embarked on a rigorous plan to lose weight, which included:
- Eating little for six days a week: Consuming boiled vegetables, low-sugar fruits, chicken breast, and controlling her calorie intake to around 800 per day.
- Binge-eating on the seventh day: Feasting on fried chicken, hotpot, barbecue, milk tea, and nuts between noon and evening.
Her efforts initially seemed successful—she lost 4kg and her waist shrank by 6cm. However, her stomach often ached, and one day, she vomited on her way back to work after another binge.
The Diagnosis
Qingqing was hospitalised and diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, a condition where digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas become activated while still inside the organ, causing inflammation and damage. The doctor attributed her condition to the combination of starvation and overeating, which disrupted her normal digestive patterns.
“She did not realise that the pancreas was one of the hardest-working organs in the digestive system. It secretes about 1,500 to 3,000 millilitres of pancreatic juice every day to digest food. When she fasted, it rested. But when she binged, it suddenly secreted a huge amount of digestive enzymes, far exceeding the normal level, which put a heavy burden on the pancreas and damaged its cells.”
The Risks of Extreme Dieting
Qingqing’s case has sparked widespread discussion about the dangers of extreme dieting. Netizens warned that starvation and binge-eating can lead to serious health issues, including:
- Pancreatitis
- Malnutrition
- Metabolic disorders
- Psychological problems
Health experts emphasise that healthy weight loss should involve balanced nutrition and moderate exercise, with a safe rate of 0.5 to 1kg per week. Extreme methods not only fail to sustain weight loss but can also cause irreversible damage to the body.
Vocabulary Table
| English | 中文释义 | 词性 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| acute pancreatitis | 急性胰腺炎 | noun | She was hospitalised due to acute pancreatitis caused by extreme dieting. |
| starvation | 饥饿 | noun | Starvation for days can severely damage your organs. |
| binge-eating | 暴饮暴食 | noun/verb | Binge-eating after fasting can lead to digestive issues. |
| digestive enzymes | 消化酶 | noun | The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes to break down food. |
| inflammation | 炎症 | noun | The doctor said her inflammation was caused by sudden enzyme secretion. |
| triglycerides | 甘油三酯 | noun | High triglycerides levels can increase the risk of pancreatitis. |
| gallbladder | 胆囊 | noun | Gallbladder stones are a common cause of pancreatitis. |
| rigorous | 严格的 | adjective | She followed a rigorous diet plan to lose weight. |
| metabolic disorders | 代谢紊乱 | noun | Extreme dieting can lead to metabolic disorders. |
| malnutrition | 营养不良 | noun | Malnutrition weakens the immune system. |
Phrases & Connectors
| English Phrase | 中文释义 | 用法示例 |
|---|---|---|
| derived from | 源自 | She derived her weight-loss method from online research. |
| far exceeding | 远超 | The enzyme secretion was far exceeding the normal level. |
| put a heavy burden on | 给…带来沉重负担 | Binge-eating puts a heavy burden on the pancreas. |
| spark discussion | 引发讨论 | The case sparked discussion about extreme dieting dangers. |
| return to a normal diet | 恢复正常饮食 | She feared the weight would come back if she returned to a normal diet. |
Critical Thinking Questions
- What are the potential long-term health risks of extreme dieting, and how can they be avoided?
- Why do you think Qingqing chose such an extreme method for weight loss? What psychological factors might have influenced her decision?
- How can society better educate people about the dangers of unhealthy weight-loss methods? What role should social media play?
- What are the signs of pancreatitis, and why is it important to seek medical help immediately if symptoms occur?
- How does the body adapt to starvation, and why is it dangerous to suddenly binge-eat after fasting?
Teacher’s Tip
🔹 健康减肥的关键：
- 均衡饮食：确保摄入足够的蛋白质、碳水化合物、健康脂肪、维生素和矿物质。
- 适量运动：每周至少进行150分钟的中等强度有氧运动（如快走、游泳或骑自行车）。
- 避免极端方法：极端节食或暴饮暴食不仅无法持久减重，还会对身体造成不可逆的伤害。
- 定期体检：关注血糖、血脂和胰腺功能，及早发现潜在健康问题。
- 心理支持：减肥是一场持久战，保持积极心态，必要时寻求专业营养师或心理医生的帮助。