NASA doctors are desperately trying to help stranded astronaut Sunita Williams gain weight after suffering “significant” weight loss since arriving at the International Space Station in June. .
In newly released photos, 59-year-old Williams appears extremely emaciated, with sunken cheeks and a noticeably thinner frame.
“She lost a lot of weight,” said a NASA official who was directly involved in the mission and attended several briefings.
“The weight has melted away from her and she is now skin and bones. So stabilizing her weight loss and hopefully reversing it is a priority.”
Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore passed a pre-mission medical exam before their spaceflight, and were scheduled to stay on the ISS for just eight days.
However, a technical failure aboard the Boeing Starliner leaves it stranded in space.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule will take them home, but they aren't expected to return to Earth until February.
They have now been in space for 155 days.
Williams, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall, began the mission weighing about 140 pounds, NASA sources said.
But as the mission dragged on, Williams became unable to maintain the high-calorie diet that astronauts must consume, officials said.
Due to metabolic changes, astronauts consume twice as many calories as humans on Earth need each day.
“They must eat about 3,500 to 4,000 calories per day just to maintain their current weight,” NASA officials said.
“And once you start to lag, the weight will drop off quickly.”
Adding to the problem is that you need to exercise for at least two hours each day in a zero-gravity environment to maintain muscle mass and bone density, as well as burn more calories.
An avid runner, Williams ran with him on the treadmill at the Boston Marathon in 2007, becoming the first person to run a marathon in space.
Sources say Williams may need to eat up to 5,000 calories each day to gain weight.
The average woman on the planet requires approximately 1,600 to 2,400 calories to maintain her weight.
NASA doctors began working together to help Williams gain weight about a month ago, even before viral images sparked global concerns about her health, officials said.
Several NASA studies have found that the effects of space travel are more severe for women. A 2023 study found that female astronauts lose muscle faster than male astronauts.
But NASA stressed in a statement Thursday that there is nothing to worry about and that it is not overly concerned about Williams' weight loss.
“All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo regular medical examinations,” the statement said.
“They are being monitored by a dedicated flight surgeon and are in good health.”
The alarming photo was released after four NASA astronauts returned to Earth in SpaceX's Dragon capsule and were rushed to hospital after spending 200 days on the ISS.
One of the individuals was kept overnight at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital, NASA said.
The space agency did not disclose the nature of the medical emergency, and the astronaut was released the next day.
Speculation about Williams' health has been fodder for gossip around NASA, officials said.
“When I saw the last photo, I gasped aloud,” said a NASA official.
“And while it's something we're talking about, it's not something we're obsessed with. It's a real concern and everyone takes it seriously.”
