Horror trend of "swallowing cotton" to stay in shape

A diet that involves swallowing cotton balls soaked in fruit juice to make you feel full has become a “trend” among young people. Doctors have warned that this type of diet is “extremely dangerous” with the risk of choking and malnutrition.

Bria Murphy, who made it to the 13th round of America's Next Top Model in 2009, admitted that many young models are going on drastic diets to stay slim. “I've heard of people eating cotton balls with orange juice… They dip cotton balls in orange juice and eat them to feel full.”

After Bria Murphy, 23-year-old model and daughter of famous comedian Eddie Murphy, admitted to seeing some models eating cotton balls soaked in fruit juice to stay in shape, many girls quickly copied this horrifying eating trend.

Described in detail online, the eating style involves swallowing five cotton balls soaked in orange juice or sauce at each meal – intended to make you feel full without gaining weight.

Health experts have called the practice “extremely dangerous” and warned that the synthetic cotton balls, made from bleached polyester fibres, contain a host of toxic chemicals.

“Your clothes are made of polyester, so swallowing synthetic cotton is like dipping your T-shirt in orange juice and eating it,” says Brandi Koskie, MD. “That’s not a good thing.”

This dangerous way of eating puts the girls not only at risk of choking and malnutrition, but also of a condition called intestinal obstruction due to food residue.

The most common cause of intestinal obstruction is swallowing indigestible material such as hair or too much plant fiber. Cotton balls will certainly cause the same problem. Over time, cotton balls can build up to form either a blockage or a complete blockage. Both of these conditions are life-threatening.

Despite the risks, many young women are still sharing this "horror" diet on YouTube and beauty forums, making experts particularly worried.

According to dantri