Cotton ball diet proves more dangerous than effective

    In recent years, teenage girls have been resorting to diet fads to become skinny. One fad that has been on the rise is “The Cotton Ball Diet”.

    Teenagers, mostly girls, dip cotton balls in orange juice, lemonade or smoothies, chew them, and then swallow them. This allows the body to feel full for a longer period of time. However, this new diet fad is only putting the body at risk.

    The majority of cotton balls are made from polyester fibers unless they are “high-end” cotton balls. These polyester fibers are filled with chemicals such as cyanide, naled, propargite, and dicofol all of which are dangerous to the body and known of causing cancer. Eating these non-digestible cotton balls could to lead to malnutrition and bezoars ( obstruction to the intestinal tract) such as choking and constipation.

   “The cotton balls can clog your bowels and have serious medical consequences. If it gets serious enough, surgery may also be required,” Dr. Mesfin Gebremichael, Intensive care unit/Pulmonary specialist said.

    Many of these teenage girls also suffer from eating disorders or self-esteem problems. 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.

   “My friend suffered from an eating disorder and it was hard for her to recover. If you know anyone trying diets like this, I suggest informing someone before it turns into a serious problem,” senior Sherese Nornoo said.

    Teenagers who have not been involved in diet fads and eating disorders believe there are healthier ways to be “skinny”.

   “As a wrestler, I know losing weight is tough but there are many other ways to lose weight then eating a “shirt” dipped in juice,” said junior Adib Afnan.

    A few healthy alternatives for losing weight, if needed, are eating healthier foods. This means less processed food and less carbonated drinks. Another alternative is to go to the gym. The gym will not only help with weight loss but also with strength training which makes a body less attracted to injuries.

   “If you work a little harder and have the proper mindset, just workout in the gym to be healthy not skinny,” senior Derek McCoy said.

    New diet fads will continue to surface and many teenagers will fall for the trap. Before going on a new diet or a diet at all, consult a physician, to make sure it is not a health hazard.