NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has dismissed circulating rumors about her experiencing “dangerous weight loss” while spending an extended period in space.
In a recent video update, Williams explained that her weight has remained consistent with what it was before she launched into space, despite some noticeable changes in her body.
Williams, who is currently in the midst of an extended mission aboard the ISS, elaborated on the concept of “fluid shift”—a phenomenon where bodily fluids move toward the upper body and head due to the lack of gravity in space. This shift often causes astronauts to appear slightly puffier around their faces and upper body. However, Williams emphasized that her overall weight remained unchanged.
Williams also shared details about her exercise regimen aboard the ISS. As part of the routine to counteract the effects of prolonged space travel, astronauts engage in regular workouts to maintain bone density and muscle mass. Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have been using equipment like a treadmill, a bike, and weightlifting machines to stay fit. Notably, the weightlifting exercises, which are not part of her usual fitness routine on Earth, have led to visible changes in her body, including increased muscle mass in her thighs and glutes.
Williams and Wilmore were originally scheduled to return to Earth shortly after their June 2024 launch aboard Boeing’s Starliner. However, due to technical anomalies with their spacecraft, their mission has been prolonged, and they now plan to return in February 2025, alongside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Sreelekshmi P/MSM)