It’s the sickest way to get slim.
When diet and exercise aren’t shredding the chub fast enough, and A-listers are hogging up all the Ozempic, weight loss daredevils are dangerously downing leafy greens, berries and other fresh produce, hoping to contract the stomach-churning, diarrhea-inducing Cyclospora parasite to achieve hot physiques this hot season.
“Me when I heard people are losing 15 to 20 pounds from the parasite,” Francesca, an East Coast content creator, teased while mixing a veggie-heavy salad in a viral vid, scarfing it down for over 2.2 million viewers. “Summer isn’t over yet.”
The blond, from Boston, labeled her popular post as “satire.” Still, hashtags such as “the diarrhea diet” and “Cyclospora skinny” are currently trending as a seriously risky movement on SkinnyTok — a social media subculture that glorifies extreme thinness, restrictive eating and unsavory slenderizing hacks.
And grubbing on greens to get cyclosporiasis is one of them.
The outbreak, with a staggering 1,645 confirmed cases across 34 states in the US since May 1, according to the CDC, comes as an intestinal infection that triggers watery, oft-explosive diarrhea. If untreated, symptoms, including stomach cramps or pain, bloating and increased gas, can persist for weeks.
Cyclospora has been repeatedly linked to raspberries, basil, cilantro, green onions, snow peas, lettuce, mesclun and salad mixes, blackberries, watercress, mangoes and vegetable trays. Federal and state health investigators have even launched a probe into Taco Bell, suspecting the nationwide fast-food chain’s fare is contributing to the fast-moving sickness.
New York City is home to a troubling 273 confirmed cases of the disease, while Long Island’s latest count surged to 66 this week. Michigan, unfortunately, has been hit the hardest in the nation, with health officials logging more than 2,640 cases of cyclosporiasis.
Public health officials have issued guidelines for avoiding the illness, advising consumers against eating pre-cut salad kits or vegetables, and encouraging folks to thoroughly wash all produce and diligently sanitize their kitchen gear.
But reckless, petite wannabes would much rather throw caution to the wind if it means getting thin.
“Risking it all for the cyclospora because I simply cannot be bothered to change my diet,” Madi, from Texas, captioned a clip of herself prepping veggies.
“When you’re freshly postpartum and get the explosive diarrhea parasite but now you’re down 20 pounds,” a giddy Brittany Jade bragged separately.
“Life update,” wrote Sean in the closed-captions of a snippet in which the Gothamite flaunted his svelte midsection. “I got cyclospora and was violently ill for the last month, but I did lose 10 pounds.”
“When you got that cyclosporiasis so you’re skinny for the summer,” cheered Elizabeth, dancing with glee in celebration of her bikini-ready body.
Bonnie Roney, a registered dietitian, however, warns that expelling copious amounts of waste due to cyclosporiasis may not have long-lasting effects on one’s waist.
“Weight loss from diarrhea is mostly water weight,” she explained to the internet. “Once diarrhea resolves, which you want it to, that weight is likely to come back.”
“A foodborne illness can have lasting impacts on your gut, which can also impact your relationship with food,” Roney continued.
“So, that short-term water weight loss [is] probably not worth it.”
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