Hannah Van De Peer, a freelance journalist, has detailed how chronic illness led to the most rapid and distressing weight loss of her life, culminating in a 21-pound drop in under two weeks. Her account, published in Metro, highlights the physical and mental toll of losing weight unintentionally, contrary to societal praise for skinniness.
Rapid Weight Loss and Its Toll
In June 2025, Van De Peer was preparing for gallbladder removal surgery. Her hospital prescribed a strict two-week diet to shrink her liver, despite her already having virtually no appetite due to severe pain. Stepping on the scales after 10 days, she saw the result she feared: a loss of 21 pounds. This rapid loss triggered constant fatigue, brain fog, fragile emotions, and even a receding hairline, as her body lacked essential nutrients.
Van De Peer, who describes herself as a midsize, curvy woman, says that healthiness looks like that to her. However, over the past two years, she has managed symptoms of four chronic illnesses, and her weight has remained unstable. She recently lost seven pounds in under a month, and her confidence is now tied to physical strength, not thinness.
Gallbladder Disease and Its Aftermath
Her health issues began in June 2024, when she was unknowingly living with gallbladder disease. A single gallstone, the size of a golf ball, prevented her gallbladder from functioning properly, causing excruciating pain attacks and a domino effect on her appetite. She eliminated saturated fat and spicy food from her diet and cut down on alcohol, but developed a phobia of eating socially, fearing an attack while out.
Van De Peer recalls suffering from stomach cramps and diarrhoea during an Uber ride to her ex-partner's birthday dinner, shaking with anxiety. She dropped from a size 18 to 12, and while a neighbour praised her for looking 'great,' she felt increasingly weak and tired. She described the pain as 10-out-of-10 on the pain scale, often leading to violent vomiting.
Post-Surgery Complications and Diagnosis
Two months after her gallbladder surgery, Van De Peer began experiencing new pain at the top of her stomach, sometimes triggered by wine, stress, or large meals. She subscribed to anti-inflammatory diets and stuck to what she deemed 'safe' meals. Her symptoms stumped various GPs for months, leading to a gastroscopy referral.
In January 2026, she was diagnosed with stage three gastro-oesophagus reflux disease (GORD) and chronic oesophagitis, and was placed on a lifelong prescription of omeprazole to decrease stomach acid production. Now, she is undergoing further abdominal investigations for a potential fourth diagnosis, as food of any type causes sudden, intense lower tummy cramps and daily diarrhoea.
Living with Dietary Restrictions
Her diet has been pared down to fruit, plain carbohydrates, and protein. Fibre is a major trigger, and without a gallbladder, she must be careful with sweet treats. Takeaways and restaurants are mostly off-limits because she needs to know every ingredient. As a self-described foodie, she feels she has lost a part of herself, mourning the person who enjoyed morning coffee and croissants without a care.
Van De Peer expresses frustration with those who laud skinniness as an ultimate goal, noting that while she empathises with those who find Ozempic helpful for existing health issues, she dislikes it being treated as a silver bullet. She concludes that skinniness is often not the pinnacle of health, a truth she has experienced firsthand.
