A young woman in China wanted to look slimmer for her best friend’s wedding and decided to lose weight quickly. What started as a personal goal soon turned into a health scare. In an effort to fit into a bridesmaid
dress and feel confident on the big day, she followed a strict routine that ultimately pushed her body too far.
So much so, she was diagnosed with prediabetes and spent nearly three months recovering.
A Wedding Goal That Led To Extreme Dieting
Xiaoyu, a 26-year-old working professional from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, was invited to be a bridesmaid at her close friend’s wedding. As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), she weighed around 65 kg at the time. Wanting to look her best for the ceremony, she decided to lose weight quickly and began planning an intense routine to slim down.
She came up with what she later described as a “devil weight-loss plan,” the SCMP reported. Her daily schedule included walking and running nearly 10 kilometres. Along with this, she sharply reduced her food intake. Her meals were limited to very small portions of vegetables and chicken breast, and she almost completely cut carbohydrates out of her diet.
A Strict Plan With Serious Effects
Within just two months, Xiaoyu lost around 15 kg. However, the fast weight loss soon started affecting her health. She began feeling weak and tired throughout the day. She also experienced constant hunger, dizziness, and low energy, making it difficult to focus on work or daily tasks.
Worried about her condition, she visited the Endocrinology Department at Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After medical tests, doctors found her fasting blood sugar levels were unusually high. She was diagnosed with prediabetes, a condition that can lead to diabetes if not treated properly.
Doctors Explain What Went Wrong
Associate Chief Physician Cheng Boning, who examined her, explained the cause of the problem. “She had almost completely eliminated carbohydrates from her diet while engaging in high-intensity exercise. This extreme strategy disrupted her insulin secretion, led to significant muscle and water loss and severely damaged her metabolism,” he said as quoted by SCMP.
Doctors advised her to stop extreme dieting and follow a balanced lifestyle instead. After three months of healthier eating and reduced exercise, her weight stabilised at 52.5 kg.
Online Reactions Spark Discussion
The story sparked strong reactions online. A user reportedly said, “I thought brides were the ones who went all out, but it turns out the bridesmaids go even harder.” Another added, “Even actual brides are not this extreme.”
Chinese Teen Hospitalised After Extreme Diet To Fit Birthday Dress
In July 2025, a story from China went viral after a 16-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital for following an extreme diet to fit into a birthday dress. Reports said she survived on only vegetables for nearly two weeks and also took laxatives to lose weight fast. Her condition worsened when she became weak and struggled to breathe. Doctors found her potassium levels had dropped dangerously low, putting her life at risk. She received emergency treatment and later recovered.
