The cotton ball diet is a fad diet that involves consuming cotton balls dipped in liquids such as juices or smoothies. [1] [2] The cotton is intended to make a person's stomach feel full without them gaining weight. [2] The diet has been repeatedly condemned as dangerous. [2]
Cotton can cause blockages in the digestive system. [3] Blockage in the intestines could result in dehydration, bowel obstruction which may cause the death of the gastrointestinal tract and damage to internal organs. [4] The diet will also result in a nutrition disorder. [4]
The diet can also cause choking because the cotton balls cannot be broken down and must be eaten whole. [4] Most cotton balls are made from bleached polyester rather than cotton, [2] and toxins in the synthetic ingredients of cotton balls can build up over time and cause organ damage. [4]
The diet is considered to be an indicator of an eating disorder; eating disorders also come with mood disorders such as depression. [4]