Ethiopian woman says she hasn’t eaten or drunk water since age 10

An Ethiopian woman, Muluwork Ambaw, has claimed that she has not eaten food or drunk water since she was 10 years old, saying she suddenly lost her appetite as a child.

Ambaw, who is now 26 and lives in Jimma, Ethiopia, said her last meal was lentil stew before she stopped eating and drinking.

Her extraordinary claim gained international attention after travel content creator Drew Binsky visited her in Ethiopia and documented her story and daily life.

According to Ambaw, the change began when her family would ask her to have breakfast before going to school.

“I used to live with my family, and they asked me to eat breakfast and go to school. I said I had eaten, but I was pretending,” she said, according to an account shared by Binsky.

Ambaw said she simply stopped feeling hungry or thirsty and has continued living without consuming food or water.

Despite claiming not to eat, Ambaw said she enjoys preparing meals for her family and visitors.

She reportedly grows vegetables in her garden so she can cook fresh food when her sister or guests visit.

“I cook as much as I want, but I have no appetite,” she said.

Ambaw also claimed that she has not used the toilet for 16 years, saying she only goes to the bathroom to wash herself.

Her claim has also raised questions about how she managed during pregnancy.

According to reports, Ambaw received glucose infusions during her pregnancy to provide her body with energy. After giving birth, she said she was unable to breastfeed because she did not produce breast milk.

Her child was subsequently fed with artificial milk.

Ambaw said she has undergone medical examinations in Ethiopia and abroad, including tests reportedly carried out in Addis Ababa, India, Qatar and Dubai.

According to accounts surrounding her story, medical professionals who examined her did not identify an explanation for her reported lack of appetite.

She has also reportedly undergone mental health assessments in Qatar and Dubai.

‘It is the work of God’

When asked by Binsky whether her claim was true, Ambaw maintained that she had not eaten for 16 years.

She attributed her condition to God and said she intended to continue her fast, adding that she did not expect to eat again.

However, there is no independently verified scientific evidence establishing that Ambaw has survived for 16 years without consuming food or water.

Medical science generally recognises water as essential for human survival, with severe dehydration becoming life-threatening within a relatively short period. Claims of prolonged survival without food or water therefore require controlled, independently verified evidence before they can be accepted as fact.

Ambaw has reportedly challenged people who doubt her account to visit her and see for themselves.

Her story has since attracted attention online, with many people questioning how such a prolonged absence of food and water could be possible.