The perils of online remedies: Did a viral weight-loss cure cost a UP leader his life?
According to media reports, Furkan Pahalwan, the 35-year-old local leader, had come across an advertisement for a weight loss remedy on Facebook and YouTube, which he ordered and consumed and ultimately led to his demise—but what really happened?
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Last week, multiple media organisations reported on the death of a local Samajwadi Party leader in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, claiming that the leader passed away after he took a weight-loss drug he ordered online—highlighting the real-world consequences of health-related misinformation found online.
According to regional and national media reports, Furkan Pahalwan, the 35-year-old local leader, had come across an advertisement for a weight loss remedy on Facebook and YouTube and ordered the product online. "The medicine was a powder of carom seeds, fennel and cumin seed. Pahalwan consumed the powder after mixing it with water for almost seven months," some media reports quoted, adding that as his kidneys failed, he did not go for dialysis and started taking ayurvedic medicines. Some reports also say that Furkan also sought treatment from a tantric (faith healer).
However, when First Check spoke to Irfan Ali, Pahalwan's family member, he said that Pahalwan had not ordered any medicine online, but instead had started consuming a DIY concoction he had seen on social media to help him lose weight.
"Furkan had seen something on Facebook about traditional remedies using ingredients like cumin and other spices for weight loss,” he said.
"He started taking it, but when his health worsened, he consulted a doctor. The doctor diagnosed kidney problems and said he would need dialysis," he added.
However, Pahalwan was concerned that the invasive treatment would have to be done repeatedly and could get expensive.
Shakil Ahmed, Pahalwan's neighbour said, "People around them advised against dialysis, so they opted for Ayurvedic treatment instead."
Pahalwan’s case is one of many where people turn to social media to find treatments for their illnesses. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp are filled with videos suggesting home remedies for various diseases.
People watch these videos and attempt to treat themselves at home without professional medical advice. A study published in the National Medical Journal of India surveyed 200 adults to examine the impact of health-related messages on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp on their health-related decision-making. It found that about 70% of study participants were influenced by health-related messages on social media platforms.
"Incorrect interpretations of health information, which increase during outbreaks and disasters, often negatively impact people’s mental health and increase vaccine hesitancy, and can delay the provision of health care," a WHO review showed.
Pahalwan was also possibly the victim of such misinformation. Dr Dharampal Singh, the Ayurvedic expert Pahalwan had consulted, told First Check that his condition was already quite bad when he visited him the first time.
"Furkan Pahalwan had come to me for the first time on 26th November, 2024. When he came to me, his blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level was 300 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL)," Dr Singh said. A kidney urea level of 300 indicates a significantly high level of urea in the blood, which is a strong sign of impaired kidney function and could point towards potential kidney failure.
"He came for the second time on 7th December, 2024 and on 21st December for the third time. At that time, his blood urea was 166.4 mg/dL. After that I never saw him again," Dr Singh told First Check. Pahalwan passed away on 4 February, 2025, about six weeks later.
Pahalwan had told Dr Singh that he had started consuming the concoction to lose weight, much to the chagrin of the doctor. “He told me that he is consuming this home-made formula for weight loss and this is not the first time I have seen this happening," he said. "These videos suggesting absolute treatment for various diseases spread like wildfire on Facebook and WhatsApp. People just see and follow them without consulting a doctor," he added.
He is right. Social media is rife with videos suggesting home-based remedies for issues ranging from weight-loss and infertility to diabetes and even cancer. Such alternate remedies that are more often than not without any evidence to support its efficacy, can take patients away from fact-based treatment plans, delay treatment or in the worst-case scenario, even cost lives.
Dr Singh stated that while he couldn't confirm whether Pahalwan's death was caused by consuming the homemade weight loss solution, he believed it could have worsened his deteriorating health. "Judging by the state of his kidneys, I'm certain he had this issue long before taking any home-based treatment—like many others, he simply wasn’t aware of it," he said. He explained that though carom, fennel and cumin seeds are not generally harmful, it is possible that it might have worsened things for Pahalwan.
This was echoed by Dr Vindhu Amitabh, Nephrologist associated with Supreme Hospital in Charmwood Village, Faridabad, Uttar Pradesh. "Though there are no scientific studies that show that consuming carom, fennel and cumin seeds can damage kidney, overconsumption can be harmful,” he said.
"Moreover, any such formula should only be consumed after consultation with your doctor," he added.
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