Bride-To-Be Dies After Extreme Crash Diet

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Sep 9th 2009 5:00PM

Photo: Getty Images

Samantha Clowe never wanted to be a 'fat bride,' and now, sadly, she won't be one at all. The obese 34-year-old, who was looking forward to her upcoming nuptials, died after an intense crash diet. Described as "fit and healthy" by her family, Clowe lost 42 pounds in 11 weeks on the controversial Lighter Life Diet, which restricts dieters to just 500 calories a day.

We're all aware that crash diets aren't great for you, but you can die from them? You bet -- and this isn't even the first time this diet has killed someone. Just last December, a mother of five died after drinking 4 liters of water, as was recommended by the program. Amazingly, you need your doctor's consent to sign up for the program. Is anyone else having a hard time believing that a trained medical professional would give the OK for this kind of extreme diet?

Lighter Life, of course, claims no responsibility: "We were very sad to hear the news about Samantha ... but the coroner said it was very difficult to make such a connection (between Clowe's death and diet.)" Dr. Martin Scurr, medical correspondent for The Daily Mail notes that Clowe's death is "unlikely to be the fault of the diet itself," but thinks the stress the diet put on the heart was most probably the biggest contributor to her death.

The bottom line? A diet that involves fewer than 800 calories a day is unhealthy, downright dangerous and not worth the risk, regardless of how fabulous your skinny jeans are. It's such a shame that two desperate dieters have lost their lives before figuring this out, but we hope their stories can help keep others from making the same mistake.

You can lose weight the healthy way -- read some of our success stories for inspiration.

Comments (123)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

lauren 9-10-2009 @ 6:50AM

UR A JERK, all people are beautiful, unfortunately dumbA**es like you cant appreciate that women come in all shapes and sizes. If she was a a bride to be, and was overweight, then CLEARLY he loved her for WHO SHE WAS. I myself, am not skinny, but Im definatley NOT FAT, and my husband loves me just the way I AM!!!!!! so go piss on your own grave!

Jayden 9-10-2009 @ 5:51PM

I agree with Lee you are an ass to say something like that-I'm sure a HUGE one!

whitemdsn 9-13-2009 @ 3:08AM

Go Lauren! What a nasty thing for that guy to say about her. I mean, my goodness-she lost her life&her family lost a loved one.
Margie

EAL 9-13-2009 @ 4:06AM

American SOCIETY DICTATES that U.S. women be ANOREXIC skinny. That's the way it is. Deal with it.

karan 9-10-2009 @ 7:02AM

Not to be insensitive but if she was obese....40-50 lbs wouldnt make much of a dent ....I am going to guess she was going to be on this diet longer.But,she died first.I hate to think she lost her life over 42 lbs.Whole thing is sad.

u262f 9-10-2009 @ 8:29AM

Karan, whether you're insensitive or not, you're simply incorrect. BMI 30 is "obese", BMI 25 to BMI 29.9 is "overweight". BMI 24 would be normal. Clowe was 5'9". If you look at a BMI chart, BMI 30 for a 5'9" person is 203, and BMI 24 is 162. 203 - 162 = 41. In other words, for a 5'9" person starting at the bottom end of "obesity", it technically takes 41 lbs to go from "obese" to "normal weight". 40-50 lbs can make a huge difference for some obese people.

estella johnson 9-10-2009 @ 11:27AM

KARAN - You sound like an idiot!!! What do you mean 40 or 50 lbs won't make a difference? 5 lbs makes a difference. You people make me sick always downing big people. Some of us do try and succeed. Some unfortunately listen to morons about diets or diet pills and end up dead in the process. How about you try to weigh 275 lbs then lose 50 lbs and tell me you don't feel or look different. WHAT AN ASS!!!!!!!!!! Go peddle your moron ways to some other nut. God bless the family that just lost an angel. At least in heaven you don't have to woory about how fat or skinny you are. You skinny people kill me with your "healthy ways". Not all ways work for everyone.

jam 9-10-2009 @ 2:52PM

Karan I have to say I recently lost 10 pounds and it made a dent and I would love to lose 40 to 50 pounds. My BMI would still say I was overweight and even on the higher side but I know I would feel awesome once I get to that point. PS. a combo of finally getting my thyroid meds right, the pill for my pcos, and doing soem intense work outs with bob and jillian I lost 10 pounds in one month. I also never denied myself I just ate half of what I wanted.

Carolyn 9-10-2009 @ 7:20AM

You are an idio, I don't know any women who want an idiot for a husband.

Mary 9-10-2009 @ 7:25AM

Well then you and your buddies must be very shallow people and have no respect for people well I mean fat people that is!!! People like you are unreal and part of the problem in this world today! No respect!

Sum 9-10-2009 @ 7:25AM

I lost 30lbs in less than six weeks by starvation diet of less than 1,000 Calories a day... being careful to eat veggies and fish..
And I got down to 110, but I almost died in the process. Had no
energy, even tho I ran and ran and excercised constantly.
It really tore my stomach up bad.... now I have to be real
careful about everything I eat or Doctor will have to remove
some of my infected intestines..( I ate nuts on a very empty stomach)..beyond diverticulosis....Bad bleeding.!!
WARNING...Treat your body like it has to last a life time..!!

Chris 9-10-2009 @ 7:28AM

No one....not even a Dr. can force you to do something you don't want to do. She had complete control over continuing with the diet, even when she started to feel bad. Anyone should know you need more than 500 calories a day. Thats the mentality in this country now...blame everyone and everything else. Come on people...time to take responsibility for your actions and personal decisions in your life.

leslie 9-10-2009 @ 12:48PM

Right on people have choices to make & can't go blaming others when they made the poor choice.Sounds to me she had more than weight issues, like poor selfesteem & the strength to say hey it's my wedding day & I don't care what anyone says about how I look. She should have looked at it this way, some things in life are meant to be, me careing what you think is not one of them.

Sandy 9-10-2009 @ 7:54AM

MIKE Q...ARE YOU MENTALLY AFFLICTED? I'M SORRY BUT YOUR COMMENT DID NOT SOUND AS IF YOU ARE FULLY EQUIPT. FOR SOMEONE TO PREFER DEATH OVER BEING TRIM, IS JUST ABSURD AND IRRATIONAL.
GET SOME HELP, GOD BLESS.

Mary 9-10-2009 @ 7:34AM

Karen, I so agree with you, I wonder if we complain enough would AOL get the picture that we are sick of it! Everything I have tried to read and comment on has something like that on there and it makes me sick, it's like trying to watch a good movie and someone won't shut up!! What I find more curious is that AOL is allowing this to happen and they are not getting profit. ......Or are they?

Kristiana 9-10-2009 @ 7:37AM

Omg...will people never learn!!! I was never obese but I was overweight. After eating healthy and exercising 4 to 5 days a week, I lost the 30lbs( it took around 5 months) I wanted to lose. Now I feel great and I would say Im not skinny but healthy which is where we all should set our goals for. It seems to me in america that many people are one extreme or the other...either obese or way too skinny thanks to fast food junkies and media overload!

sweetguy372006 9-10-2009 @ 7:38AM

First off im a fat guy who has been big all my life and im here to let you know a thing or two.Almost a year ago i went to a doctor to see about the lap band sergery .I was told that in order for me to get it done the dr wanted me to lose 85lbs.The diet he put me on was what he gives all his potential patients and it was only 600 calories a day.It consisted of a protien drink in the morning then at noon you got 4oz of cottage cheese and a hand full of carrots.For dinner you got a small salad with no dressing and 4oz of cottage cheese again and that was all you get all day.I talked to a dietician and was informed by them to tell the dr that he was crazy and not even a child could servive on that .So if you thin people are so great try liveing on that yourself.Plus i dont see you skinny people talking about the people with eatting disorders that are so skinny that they are only skin and bones.

diane 9-10-2009 @ 11:36AM

I am under weight for my height, I eat everyday sometimes all day. I have to deal with people saying I ust have an eating disorder of some kind. I cannot go to a regulaar store for cloth's they are to big or to short. Yet almost every store has a plus size section. If your health is not at risk and you are healthy and not over weight, be happy with who you are. Live each day to teh fullest, enjoy every moment, laugh love everyday. We are only here on borrowed time only we can make the best of it

fletchie 9-10-2009 @ 7:56AM

You are a COLD HEARTED JERK

Bonnie 9-10-2009 @ 8:03AM

thank you ,thank you! Being overweight myself it saddens me to think how as a society we are so insensitive to others. This girls family must be devastated,and all people can think about is pushing their products!! I guess s--- comes in all sizes.