Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut stranded on the ISS, finally addressed health concerns in a video from space, putting an end to swirling rumors about her physical condition.
Health experts and NASA insiders recently raised alarms over Williams’ visibly 'gaunt' appearance after over 150 days in space, sparking fears of rapid weight loss.
Williams dismissed the rumors in a NASA-released video, stating she has actually gained muscle. “My thighs and butt are a little bigger…we do a lot of squats,” she explained.
Williams attributed her altered appearance to “fluid shift,” a space phenomenon that redistributes body fluids, sometimes giving astronauts puffy faces and thinner legs.
NASA’s struggle to stabilize her weight was reported by an anonymous NASA source to the New York Post, citing Williams’ difficulty in keeping up with the high-calorie diet required on the ISS.
Pulmonologist Dr. Vinay Gupta told DailyMail.com that, although Williams' life isn’t in immediate danger, her thin appearance is concerning, pointing to possible health stresses from her extended stay.
In her video, Williams shared insights about her meals, mentioning a Turkish fish stew with olives and rice, but declined to give details on her calorie intake.
NASA’s 2014 study revealed that women face unique challenges in space, including greater blood plasma loss, which can increase metabolism and contribute to muscle depletion.
Williams and crewmate Barry Wilmore are expected to remain in space until February 2025, awaiting a safe return trip on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon after Boeing’s faulty spacecraft was deemed unsafe.