On TikTok, part of SkinnyTok found a new extreme idea: looking for a “slimming parasite”. In the videos, Internet users swallow salads, red fruits and fresh herbs in the midst of a Cyclospora epidemic in the United States, in the hope of contracting violent diarrhea and losing a few pounds. The nickname of the moment: “diarrhea diet”, in other words the diarrhea diet.
A designer from Boston, Francesca, plays the second degree card by filming herself with a huge salad bowl: “Me, when I heard that people lost 7 to 9 kilos with the parasite. Summer is not over.” His video has more than 2.2 million views, and others also boast of losing 10 or 20 pounds after infection. Behind these jokes, a real intestinal parasite which sometimes ends up in the emergency room.
SkinnyTok, Cyclospora and the temptation of the “slimming parasite”
On SkinnyTok, this TikTok subculture that glorifies extreme thinness and drastic restrictions, every shocking slimming “hack” becomes bankable content. After the 1,200 calorie challenges, it’s time for the “skinny tok parasite”: eating foods associated with the cyclosporiasis epidemic to try to catch the infection and become “Cyclospora skinny” before the end of summer.
Some creators clarify that they are into satire, but the comments show that many take the idea seriously. A Texan, Madi, writes: “I’m risking everything for cyclospora because I simply don’t want to change my diet” while preparing her vegetables. Another Internet user, Sean, says he was “violently ill for a month” but is delighted to have lost 4 or 5 kilos. The infection becomes a slimming tool, not a reason to consult.
Cyclospora: What This Diarrhea Parasite Really Does to the Body
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,600 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in 34 states since May 1. The disease is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, ingested via water or plants contaminated by human feces. It causes watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea, cramps, bloating and severe fatigue which can last several weeks without treatment.
For nutrition specialists, this pseudo “slimming shortcut” is not one, insists American dietitian Bonnie Roney: “Weight loss linked to diarrhea is mainly water,” she explains. She adds: “Once the diarrhea resolves, that weight is likely to come back.” Dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and loss of appetite exhaust the body. “A food infection can have lasting impacts on your gut and your relationship with food,” she warns.
How to protect yourself from Cyclospora without giving in to the slimming excesses of TikTok
The American authorities do not recommend banning fruits and vegetables, but rather handling them differently. Rinsing salads, herbs and berries under running water, washing hands with soap, avoiding pre-cut salads limits part of the risk.
On the screen side, ignoring, hiding or reporting videos that glorify parasites and eating disorders helps the algorithm to push them less. In case of diarrhea that lasts several days, especially after raw vegetables, doctors recommend consulting for a Cyclospora test rather than celebrating the scale.
