A 27-year-old woman has died in Bali after following an extreme “fruitarian” diet that left her severely malnourished.
Polish national Karolina Krzyzak, a former Leeds University student, checked into the Sumberkima Hill resort in December 2024, requesting a villa with a private pool. But staff said they were immediately alarmed by her condition, describing her as “emaciated,” with sunken eyes and her collarbone protruding sharply.
According to resort workers, Karolina was so weak on arrival that a night clerk carried her to her room. Staff offered medical assistance several times, but she repeatedly declined, the Daily Mail reports.
Over the following days, hotel staff continued to check on her as they delivered fruit to her room, a diet that is not uncommon at wellness retreats.
But as her health visibly deteriorated, concerns grew. At one point, staff reported she needed help turning over in bed.
Their fears intensified when a friend called the resort, worried they had not heard from her. When staff entered her villa to check, they found Karolina unresponsive on the floor. She had died.
Karolina, who had long struggled with anorexia, had recently adopted a fruitarian diet, an extreme vegan diet consisting mainly of fruit, sometimes supplemented with nuts and seeds. At the time of her death, she reportedly weighed just three-and-a-half stone (49lbs).
Experts have stressed the dangers of such a restrictive regimen. Dietitian Melainie Rogers told The Cut: “You’re not getting sufficient protein or fats or omega-3s. The body is essentially running on empty.”
Registered dietitian Kate Patton of the Cleveland Clinic added that fruitarianism is “not usually recommended” due to the “big risk of malnourishment.” While fruit can be part of a balanced diet, she explained, it should make up no more than 25 to 30 percent of daily intake.
“You might lose weight on the fruitarian diet,” Patton said, “but I don’t consider this a true benefit, because you are likely losing muscle.”
Friends of Karolina recalled that she often spoke of feeling weak and lacking energy in the months leading up to her death.
Her passing has renewed calls from health experts to raise awareness about the dangers of extreme diets, particularly for those already vulnerable to eating disorders.
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