Sree Nanda, a native of Meruvambai Thalassery who died on Sunday, used to follow online portals for a weight loss diet. The 18-year-old abstained from proper food for almost six months and survived on hot water to lose weight. Water fasting and many other fad diets have gained popularity across social media platforms. However, they are highly risky methods that have the potential to cause severe health complications and even death. It is commonly believed that water fasting stimulates autophagy, a process that helps your body break down and recycle old parts of your cells. But it can do more harm than good when done inappropriately. It can also cause serious physical harm and death when done without medical supervision. The incident highlights the dangers of blindly following fad. diets, particularly those promoted on social media. This content including advice provides generic information only and is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.