Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently extending her stay on the International Space Station (ISS), recently addressed concerns about her health following the release of an official photo showing her in a visibly “gaunt” condition. This image sparked widespread speculation over her well-being, but Williams clarified that her altered appearance is due to “fluid shifts” in the body during spaceflight.
Williams, who appeared with sunken cheeks and a slimmer face in recent images, assured the public that she remains in good health. Speaking on the New England Sports Network Clubhouse Kids Show, she explained, “In space, fluid in the body shifts upward, making our heads look a bit larger.” NASA has been studying these effects for years, aiming to understand how fluid redistribution in weightlessness may contribute to increased intracranial pressure and decreased visual capacity.
An April 2020 NASA press release reported that astronaut Andrew Morgan participated in the Fluid Shifts study, which confirmed that in space, fluid shifts to the upper body can cause increased pressure in the head, affecting the retina. Williams herself echoed these findings, dispelling weight loss rumors by noting she’s actually bulked up, saying, “My thighs are a little bit bigger, my butt is a little bit bigger — we do a lot of squats.”
Supporting her claims, NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell affirmed that all astronauts on the ISS receive regular health checks and are under continuous medical monitoring. However, another NASA insider directly involved in her mission disputed this, claiming Williams has lost a significant amount of weight, possibly due to her high-calorie needs not being fully met. “The pounds have melted off her,” the source told the New York Post, adding that helping her stabilize and regain any lost weight is now a priority.
Williams and her mission partner Barry “Butch” Wilmore have been stranded in space for over five months due to issues with the Boeing Starliner, which returned to Earth without them. The duo is now expected to return in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, alongside Crew-9 mission members NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
