Lactic Acidosis and Death after the Treatment of Obesity by Fasting

SINCE Bloom's initial description in 19591 there have been several additional reports of the treatment of obesity by fasting.2 3 4 5 Starvation regimens have been varied, with periods of fasting lasting from two to a hundred and seventeen days. In general, results have been reported to be satisfactory although such complications as hyperuricemia, orthostatic hypotension and anemia have been reported. To our knowledge, until the present time there have been no reports of death in association with therapeutic starvation.The case of an extremely obese diabetic patient who acquired lactic acidosis while fasting and who subsequently died is described.Case ReportMrs. . . .