Social media 'cyclospora skinny' craze sparks health alerts in Arizona

Videos and jokes promoting a so-called "cyclospora skinny" method have gone viral, prompting Arizona health officials to investigate 36 cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection acquired within the state. Dr. Andrew Carroll, president of IntraCare and a physician in Chandler, warned that deliberately contracting the parasite is dangerous and can lead to hospitalization or death. The parasite, typically spread through contaminated fresh produce, triggers prolonged watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps and extreme fatigue, with weight loss resulting from fluid depletion rather than healthy fat loss.

Diagnosis requires a specialized stool test, and treatment usually involves the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Experts from the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic stress that dehydration and electrolyte imbalance pose serious risks, especially for vulnerable groups. They urge the public to practice safe food handling and seek medical care for persistent gastrointestinal symptoms rather than following the hazardous trend.