Some people are questioning if Ariana Grande’s face is revealing something about her health. Online discussions have suggested that her face shows signs of declining health and that her body is beginning to consume muscle. However, experts have clarified that the body’s functions do not work in that way. They explained that a celebrity’s appearance in photos or videos cannot accurately reflect their health.
Ariana Grande is currently focusing on establishing “boundaries” and taking a break from her public life. After finishing her Eternal Sunshine tour on September 1, she announced a plan to step back from the spotlight due to ongoing public scrutiny. Despite her intentions, speculation about her looks continued after her announcement. One widely shared comment suggested that her body is “starting to eat muscle.”
In a popular Reddit thread, a comment implied that her declining health indicated a loss of motor functions due to muscle loss from a lack of body fat. This claim may sound medical, but Catherine Cook-Cottone, a licensed psychologist and expert on eating disorders, noted that it oversimplifies bodily processes. She stated that nothing definitive about someone’s health can be determined from photos or videos. Cook-Cottone emphasized that she would not diagnose anyone without a physical evaluation, as appearance alone does not indicate health status.
She mentioned that the phrase about “eating muscle” could be a loose way to describe what happens when a person does not have enough nutrition for a long time. Experts explained that prolonged inadequate nutrition can lead to muscle and lean mass loss. Dr. Fuat, a plastic surgeon with Longevita, shared his views on the term “eating muscle.” He clarified that it is not a medically accurate phrase but does represent a real process in a simplified manner. He said that when a body lacks sufficient energy from food over time, it has to find energy from other sources, which can include breaking down protein from muscle tissue.
Dr. Fuat pointed out that individuals do not need to lose all their body fat before they start losing muscle. He mentioned that both fat and muscle can decrease simultaneously during prolonged energy shortages. The amount lost varies according to the person and the length of the energy deficit. He also highlighted that simply looking very lean does not indicate someone’s muscle mass or nutritional health.
Experts warned against confusing thinness with malnutrition. Dr. Fuat noted that a photo cannot reveal how much muscle someone has lost, and factors like weight history, nutrition, strength, and physical function are all important. He reiterated that being thin does not always mean someone is malnourished, and one does not have to appear underweight to be malnourished.
What do you think about the discussions surrounding Ariana Grande’s health?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Gabija Saveiskyte