Before she passed away in December 2024, she weighed only around 22kg, struggled to stand or even roll over in bed, and showed severe physical decline – her nails had turned yellow, and her teeth were badly damaged.
Karolina Krzyżak, originally from Warsaw, Poland, had once studied at the University of Leeds in the UK. At 19, she adopted a diet of only raw fruit. Eight years later, she was found d3ad in a hotel room in Bali from extreme malnutrition. In her final weeks, her body had deteriorated drastically: she could barely move, her skin was pale, her nails discolored, and her teeth decaying.
Her Weight Dropped Rapidly After Switching to a Fruit-Only Diet
Karolina had struggled with body image since she was a teenager. In 2013, at just 15, she wrote online, “Why are you crying?” — “Because I’m fat.”
After moving to England to study, she became interested in “clean eating.” At 19, she committed to eating only fruit and documented it online. Her photos gained attention, especially comments praising her thin frame and prominent collarbones.
But as her weight declined sharply, she confided in friends that she feared dying. While some tried to convince her to get help, others online encouraged her to continue. One follower wrote, “I trust you know what’s best for you.”
She Became Consumed by Online Communities
Unemployed, Karolina spent most of her time on social media, posting bowls of fruit and lifestyle messages. A close friend later said, “She needed real medical and psychological support, but the online world only reinforced her beliefs.” Karolina told friends her family accused her of being “brainwashed by the internet.”
In 2024, following advice from an online acquaintance, she moved to Tenerife. Although she initially appeared happier, the sudden death of a kitten she adopted left her devastated.
Her Final Months in Bali
Karolina traveled to Bali in September 2024 hoping to connect with others who shared her dietary beliefs. However, even those who followed similar lifestyles were deeply alarmed by her condition. One attendee of an influencer meet-up recalled instantly noticing her extreme thinness and estimated her weight at under 27kg.
Her health rapidly declined. She walked slowly to avoid falling and often struggled to stay upright. Friends urged her to see a doctor, but she refused, insisting that any treatment must still involve “only fruit.”
On December 8, 2024, she examined into a scenic resort. She sent her dietary requests in advance: fruit only, delivered to her room. Staff were surprised by her frail appearance. She could no longer stand without assistance; hotel employees had to help her move.
