A 27-year-old woman tragically passed away in Bali after adhering to an extreme “fruitarian” diet that resulted in severe malnutrition.
Karolina Krzyzak, a Polish national and former student at Leeds University, arrived at the Sumberkima Hill resort in December 2024, requesting a villa with a private pool. However, the staff were immediately concerned about her appearance, describing her as “emaciated,” with sunken eyes and a sharply protruding collarbone.
According to the resort employees, Karolina was so frail upon her arrival that a night clerk had to carry her to her room. Despite being offered medical help multiple times, she consistently refused, as reported by the Daily Mail.
In the days that followed, hotel staff made regular checks on her while delivering fruit to her room, which is a common practice at wellness retreats.
As her health continued to decline, worries among the staff increased. At one point, they noted that she required assistance to turn over in bed.
Their concerns deepened when a friend reached out to the resort, expressing worry over not hearing from her. When staff entered her villa to investigate, they discovered Karolina unresponsive on the floor. Sadly, she had passed away.
Karolina, who had battled anorexia for a long time, had recently taken up a fruitarian diet, which is an extreme form of veganism that primarily consists of fruits, occasionally including nuts and seeds. At the time of her passing, she was reported to weigh only three-and-a-half stone (49lbs).
Experts have highlighted the risks associated with such a restrictive diet. Dietitian Melainie Rogers shared with The Cut: “You’re not getting enough protein, fats, or omega-3s. The body is essentially running on empty.”
Registered dietitian Kate Patton from the Cleveland Clinic noted that fruitarianism is “not typically advised” because of the “significant risk of malnourishment.” While fruit can be a component of a balanced diet, she clarified that it should constitute no more than 25 to 30 percent of daily consumption.
“You may lose weight on the fruitarian diet,” Patton remarked, “but I wouldn’t view this as a genuine advantage, as you are likely losing muscle.”
Karolina’s friends remembered her often mentioning that she felt weak and low on energy in the months before her passing.
Her death has sparked renewed calls from health professionals to increase awareness about the risks associated with extreme diets, especially for individuals who are already susceptible to eating disorders.
