A NASA astronaut who was stranded in orbit has spoken out after fresh photos prompted concerns about her health. Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 61, and Sunita “Suni” Williams, 59, set out on an eight-day expedition on June 5. But this was thrown off by mechanical problems, and the two have stayed up there ever since rather than going home in the broken spaceship. They have some optimism, though, since when it’s their turn, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will take them home. As regular people on Earth worry about the NASA pair, they have been providing updates, and the release of new photos has increased that anxiety.
As they discussed Williams’ appearance, some observers conjectured that she had lost weight. Referring to the images, pulmonologist Dr. Vinay Gupta told the Daily Mail: “Her face and sunken cheeks suggest she has likely been in a significant calorie deficit for some time.” “However, I don’t think you can say she has a healthy body weight based on that picture.” “All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health,” the agency said in an email to LADbible.
NASA released a video of Williams’ interview with New England Sports Network yesterday, November 12, giving her a voice at last. When talking about sports, fitness, and life in space, the astronaut was asked if her “overall health” had changed or if she had “lost any weight” while trying to perform various activities up there. “Up here, a lot of things change,” the astronaut told me. “I think there are some rumors that I’m losing weight and stuff, but it’s funny.” “I’m actually right at the same amount,” Williams said, seizing the chance to deny all of this. The astronaut claims that she weighs herself every day up there and that her weight is “at the same weight” as it was upon arrival.
“I think a lot of things are changing around. As the fluid evens out along their bodies, people in space appear to have larger heads, a phenomenon you’ve probably heard about,” she said. Butch and I have been up here for months, and during that time, we have been dressed for exercise. We have weightlifting equipment, a treadmill, and a bicycle. Even though I don’t lift weights very often, I could tell that it had altered me profoundly. My thighs and buttocks have grown somewhat as a result of the numerous squats we do. They use treadmills to increase the “bone density” of their feet and hips, she said. “I weigh the same, but I think my body has changed a little bit,” Williams said.
