(STLMoms) – A common household product is becoming part of a dangerous diet trend among teens. It’s called the “Cotton Ball Diet.”
Online news reports indicate some dieters are actually swallowing cotton balls with orange juice or other juices. The trend has reportedly been done by some in the modeling industry for years.
A YouTube video posted online showed one teen swallowing the cotton ball ‘for fun.’The goal is to feel full without gaining weight but, according to doctors, it’s dangerous and a sign of an eating disorder.
Learn more about eating disorders
Health officials warn cotton balls are not meant to be consumed and are not actually made from cotton. They’re made from polyester fibers that contain numerous chemicals not meant for human consumption.
Doctors also warn cotton balls can get stuck, causing suffocation and even clogging the bowels.
