A 15-year-old girl (Riya's) sudden and unexplained paralysis baffled doctors as all conventional tests—from blood work to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—came back without a single abnormality. The mystery of her condition was eventually solved by a Hyderabad-based neurologist, Dr. Sudhir Kumar, who identified the cause not in her physical body, but in the overwhelming psychological distress caused by relentless body shaming.
Dr. Kumar provided the diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition where emotional and psychological distress manifest as genuine neurological symptoms. According to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), FND is one of the most common causes of neurological disability, often mimicking conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy. Importantly, the symptoms are real, not feigned, and can include weakness, seizures, tremors, or even vision loss.
Her recovery involved a holistic, multi-pronged approach combining therapy, counseling, and physiotherapy. As part of her treatment plan, physiotherapists encouraged Riya to gradually retrain her walking patterns, while counseling sessions helped her process the trauma of bullying. The doctor emphasized to her family that validating her distress, rather than dismissing it as “in her head,” was essential to her healing.
Her parents also played a critical role by engaging the school’s teachers, who responded with sensitivity and worked to create a more supportive environment. Within three weeks, Riya was back on her feet. Within months, she was running, and her physical and emotional recovery was so complete that she joined her school’s basketball team.
The story concluded six months later, when she returned to Dr. Kumar’s clinic with a trophy for "Player of the Tournament," her new-found strength and confidence symbolized by the victory she carried in her hands.
Research indicates that both children and adults who experience body shaming are susceptible to numerous long-term psychological and physical consequences. The psychological harm is extensive, including higher rates of depression and anxiety, low self-esteem, low body satisfaction, and an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The excerpts provided in clinical literatures offer concrete examples of this phenomenon.
A 16-year-old girl developed "fainting attacks and 'possession' symptoms" after she failed her school-leaving exams while her friends passed, and her parents began planning her marriage.
Similarly, a 25-year-old woman experienced frequent fainting spells and temporary hand paralysis due to the long-standing "insoluble problem" of being unable to conceive after seven years of marriage and facing pressure from her mother-in-law.
(Rh/Eth/SG/MSM)