NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has dismissed growing concerns about her health as mere “rumors,” attributing her changed appearance to a phenomenon known as “fluid shift.”
The 59-year-old astronaut sparked concern last week after a NASA photo showed her looking ‘gaunt’, with sunken cheeks and a noticeably slimmer frame. However, Williams reassured the public during an interview on the New England Sports Network’s Clubhouse Kids show, emphasizing that she was in good health.
Williams explained, “People in space often have slightly larger-looking heads because the fluid distributes more evenly throughout the body.”
She added, “You’ve probably heard of something called fluid shift,” referring to the phenomenon that astronauts experience in space.
This morning, @Astro_Suni spoke with @NESN about her stay aboard the @Space_Station, her love of Boston sports, and staying fit and active. She also addressed rumors about her health during her mission.
— NASA Astronauts (@NASA_Astronauts) November 12, 2024
According to NASA, fluid shifts have affected about half of all American astronauts on the International Space Station, causing fluid to move upward and increase pressure and volume in the head.
Williams also dismissed claims of excessive weight loss, revealing that she has actually gained muscle since her return to Earth was delayed until February.
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“My thighs and butt are a bit bigger,” she said with a smile. “We do a lot of squats.”
For the unversed, a NASA employee, who is ‘directly involved with the mission’, told the New York Post that Williams has struggled to maintain the high-calorie diet required for astronauts aboard the ISS. He added, “The pounds have melted off her and she’s now skin and bones. So it’s a priority to help her stabilize the weight loss and hopefully reverse it”
Notably, extended space missions can have significant effects on astronauts’ health, particularly for women, leading to issues such as weight loss, muscle atrophy, bone density loss, heart and vision problems, and kidney stones.
NASA insisted stranded astronaut Sunita Williams is safe & healthy amid growing public concern for her health
The photo showed her looking ‘gaunt’, suggesting she had lost a significant amount of weight after spending more than 150 days stuck on the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/vFEEkfVgDK
— AstroNana (@ImAstroNana) November 9, 2024
As per the report, Williams, initially set for an eight-day mission, has struggled to maintain the high-caloric diet required for astronauts. NASA began working with her a month ago to help her regain weight, even before recent photos sparked public concern.
Despite this, NASA reassured that there are no major health concerns, as astronauts undergo routine medical evaluations and are monitored closely by flight surgeons. Williams and astronaut Barry Wilmore have been stranded on the ISS for over five months due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner, with their return now delayed until February 2025 via a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
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