Here is the story:
Diet warning as slimmer dies
Sunday, November 5, 2006
An obesity expert has questioned a crash diet after a woman of 25 died after losing 63kg (10st) in six months.
Matilda Callaghan (pictured) was living on just 500 calories a day – 1,500 less than the normal intake.
Under direction from diet firm LighterLife, she dropped from 209kg (33st) to 146kg (23st). Her daily food was three sachets of powder mixed with water.
Miss Callaghan, of Hampstead, North London, died in hospital of a fatal heart arrhythmia in January.
Her mother, Patricia Callaghan, confronted Lighter- Life boss Bar Hewlett at the inquest into her death, blaming the diet for her child's erratic weight loss.
Camden coroner Dr Andrew Reid recorded an unascertained verdict after being told that rapid weight loss can kill.
Last night obesity expert Prof John Garrow said 500 calories a day was risky and anyone on a diet should eat at least 800.
He added: 'It is almost certain this young lady's death was caused by damage to her heart due to rapid weight loss.'
He added that dieting too fast can reduce the lean tissue in the heart.
LighterLife founder Ms Hewlett insisted her diets were safe, adding that Miss Callaghan had been obese since the age of 12 and could have died at any time.