Feeding tube diet appeals to brides-to-be

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- When a bride finds that perfect dress, she will want to look perfect in it. For Jessica Schnaider, that meant finding a way to shed a stubborn 10 pounds before June.

"I don't have all of the time on the planet just to focus an hour and a half a day to exercise, so I came to the doctor, I saw the diet, and I said, 'You know what, why not,'" said Schnaider.

What she tried was the controversial K-E diet, which uses a feeding tube to help dieters shed 20 pounds in just 10 days.

"Your hunger and appetite go away completely, so patients are absolutely not hungry at all for the whole 10 days," said Dr. Oliver Di Pietro.

A feeding tube is inserted into the dieter's nose and runs a slow, constant drip of a protein and fat mixture into their stomachs for a total of 800 calories. Because Schnaider only wanted to lose 10 pounds, she only needed the feeding tube in for 8 days.

Body fat is burned through a process called ketosis, which leaves muscle intact.

"I'm happy because those 10 pounds went off fast. Without hunger," said Schnaider.

Doctors do supervise the diet, but patients aren't hospitalized. Instead, they have to carry the bag of food solution with them and keep the tube in their nose for 10 days straight.

"It was emotionally like, difficult," said Schnaider. "Sometimes I had to give explanations to people who were asking 'Jessica what's up with you? Are you sick? Are you dying?' And I was like, 'No I'm not sick, I'm not dying, I'm fine!"

The K-E diet has been around in Europe for years and supporters say their before and after pictures speak for themselves.

However critics warn that this kind of diet isn't a long-term solution and losing too much weight too fast can be physically and emotionally dangerous.

"If you lose the weight too quickly your mind is not going to be able to catch up with a newer, skinnier you," said Dr. Bethanny Marshall, a psychoanalyst.

People with kidney issues should avoid the diet. For those healthy enough to try it, side effects mainly include bad breath and constipation.

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diet, health, health & food, christina salvo

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