Ok, so I know this girl who lost some weight recently. I asked her what she was doing. I don't know her very well. She told me that she'll eat nothing but cotton for three days then eat regular for two then another three days with just cotton.

I was thinking maybe cotton candy, but no.... she literally eats cotton! I was in shock. Then I had to ask.... "Is sterile cotton or just a bag of cotton?" She says she goes to Wal-Mart and gets the cheap cotton in a bag and will eat it. She said that it makes her really full and she's good. I asked her about how it comes out but she said that she does what she has to do to lose weight.

Have you ever heard of this? I know that long term this is not good and she'll just rebound but still.... she eats cotton.... I don't know how she even started this.

Um, I can't see how that could be good for the digestion. And I don't think there's anything your body could use in cotton? Fiber makes you feel full, too, and your body can actually put those foods to good use! I've never heard of that. Wow.

Wait - what are you talking about when you say cotton in a bag? Are you meaning "cotton balls" that you would find in the beauty supply row? That stuff isn't real cotton, it's a polyester/rayon blend. That can't be safe for you!

oh I didn't realize that! Yes, cotton balls in a bag.

Now, I'm even more in shock! I wonder what it will do to her? She's lost 20 pounds so far but I'm really worried for her.

That is really scary! Seems like to me it could cause an intestional blockage at some point. Might want to mention how dangerous it could be.

oh wow....that is very scary!

To be frank you really should be worried for her. I have actually heard of this before but only as something done by very, very sick anorexics.

I've heard this before with models who eat cotton wool sandwiches and smoke cigarettes to lose/maintain their weight. Can't be good for you at all.

Kitty

That sounds disgusting, and it can't be good for her.

Yikes..

She's probably lost 20 lbs simply because she's not getting any calories. Cotton balls are probably bleached too... so all that chlorine she is ingesting along with those fibers. That is concerning. I hope she gets help asap.

I recently saw a preview of a segment of Diagnosis X (or some similar program on the Discovery Health channel) about a woman who was eating cotton. I missed the episode but in the preview the woman was in the emergency room in excruciating pain. Does your friend say anything about being able to, um, evacuate the cotton? I think you should try and talk her into seeing a doctor. Soon.

I've heard of this too, mostly among ballerinas who were worried about gaining weight before big performances/company auditions.

There's just no way that's healthy. She should IMMEDIATELY see a doctor -- it's possible that she's not even digesting it and that it's just sitting there absorbing stuff. NOT NOT GOOD.

Most cotton balls are bleached, so she's consuming chemicals. Furthermore, the cotton is grown with very high amounts of pesticides and fertilizers.

If she loses any weight at all with this method then I'm sure she won't mind when she's butt up on an operating table having the obstruction removed.

It sounds like she has an eating disorder and needs professional help, fast.

I feel immensely sorry for anyone who feels they need to go to those kinds of lengths to lose weight. She eats cotton balls? My goodness.

Yeah. if she is not excreting it and it is not dissolving then it will probably clog her intestinal system. Not good