Lifestyle
Woman Found Dead in Bali After Following an Extreme Diet to Lose Weight
A former university student has tragically passed away in a hotel room in Bali after adopting a strict ‘fruitarian’ diet that left her severely underweight.
Karolina Krzyzak, 27, who originally hailed from Poland, had become obsessed with body image and the concept of ‘clean eating‘ after starting the diet at the age of 19, consuming only raw fruit.
The Polish-native and former Leeds University student, who had been living in the UK, travelled to Bali in 2024. By then, her health had already started to deteriorate significantly. According to reports, she struggled with basic activities, including holding her balance or turning over in bed.
When she checked into the Sumberkima Hill resort in December, hotel staff were shocked by her appearance. They described her as “emaciated,” with sunken eyes and a visible collarbone sticking out, reported the Daily Star. A night clerk had to help her to her room, as she couldn’t support her own weight.
Although staff suggested calling a doctor, Karolina refused and specifically asked for only fruit to be served to her during her stay, even requesting that meals be delivered directly to her door.
Despite her weakened state, staff didn’t find her unusual requests alarming, as Bali is known for its focus on health and wellness. Over the next few days, Karolina stayed mostly in her room, with hotel staff regularly delivering her fruit packages. She would occasionally venture to the veranda to sit, but it wasn’t long before she lacked the energy to do even that.
After three days, the resort was contacted by a local who ran a raw-vegan café in Ubud. The local, who had planned to meet Karolina, became concerned after not hearing from her. When hotel staff went to check on her, they found her lifeless in her room.
A close friend of Karolina, who was also a former fruitarian, revealed that Karolina had been suffering from developed osteoporosis and an albumin deficiency, which led to oedema, causing swelling in her feet. Karolina’s journey with veganism and fruitarianism began when she moved to Leeds at 18 to study, where she became deeply involved in yoga and veganism.
She later took to social media to share her journey, posting images of her fruit-filled smoothie bowls and participating in live Instagram sessions. Her followers praised her for her slim frame, with compliments often directed at her “nice neck and collarbones.”
However, her extreme diet, which eliminated protein, fats, and omega-3s, began to take a toll on her health. Despite her dramatic weight loss, Karolina continued to follow the fruitarian lifestyle, which prompted her parents to urge her to return home for treatment.
‘She Needed Medical Help’ Tragic Death of Leeds Student Linked to Extreme DietAfter a stint in an inpatient clinic in 2018, Karolina resumed her diet, even though it was clear she was struggling with an eating disorder. She confided in friends that her family believed she had been “brainwashed by vegans and social media.”
By the time Karolina arrived in Bali, her health had severely declined. A fruitarian health coach who met her described her as weighing no more than 60 pounds (around 4.2 stone), and friends said she could barely walk without losing her balance. Despite being urged to seek medical help, Karolina refused and remained steadfast in her belief that any treatment would need to fit within her raw vegan diet.
Sadly, it was only after her death that those close to her reflected on how the online community, rather than offering help, often validated her extreme behaviours. One friend summed it up by saying, “She needed medical and psychological help, and the community often validated her behaviours instead.”
