Former magnificence queen sparks outrage after claiming fasting cures most cancers
Former Miss France Delphine Wespiser has faced a backlash after claiming on live TV that prolonged fasting can “destroy cancer cells”, prompting doctors to condemn her remarks as “dangerous”
She became the first red-haired Miss France in several years(Image: W9)
A former beauty queen is under fire after claiming on live television that fasting can “destroy cancer cells”. Former Miss France Delphine Wespiser has sparked outrage with her comments, prompting a fierce backlash from doctors and the public.
Medical experts have slammed her claims as “dangerous misinformation”, warning that there is no scientific evidence to support such claims and urging the public not to take health advice from celebrities. Earlier this month, she sparked a significant controversy during an appearance on French TV channel W9 by making unverified health claims regarding prolonged fasting.
The 34-year-old suggested that fasting for extended periods could “destroy” cancer.
Wespiser, who has become a regular on various TV shows since being crowned in 2012, has been notable and open about her strict regimen to maintain her figure, frequently undertaking periods of fasting. She recently revealed that once a year, after three days without solid food and consuming only “water and broths”, a curious phenomenon occurs.
“The body enters autophagy, which means it eats and destroys all the cells that aren’t good, the cancerous cells,” Wespiser said. She further stated: “The longer you go without eating, the longer it cleanses and can remove diseases.”
She later pointed out that abroad, people suffering from serious illnesses have “fasted for weeks and weeks”. Wespiser’s comments have sparked outrage.
“For your health, you don’t take advice from Miss France,” Dr Boris Hansel, an endocrinologist and nutritionist told French news outlet Midi Libre. “Scientists are trained to speak about science.”
There is “no credible evidence” that prolonged fasting can treat or eradicate tumours in humans. Moreover, doctors warn that extreme fasts (such as 21-day water-only diets) carry severe risks, including malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and muscle loss.
“Health professionals don’t recommend that you fast before or during chemotherapy,” Cancer Research UK states. “Fasting may be harmful if you have other health problems like diabetes, heart disease, weight loss or low weight”.
Many cancer treatments require proper nutrition to maintain organ function and safely metabolise chemotherapy drugs. Fasting during these times can weaken the immune system and increase infection risks.
“Although there has been some research into fasting and cancer risk, there is no good evidence that fasting reduces overall cancer risk,” Macmillan Cancer Support informs. Experts have clarified that the body already “cleanses” itself via the liver and kidneys.
Additionally, cancer is caused by genetic changes, not “toxins” that can be flushed out by not eating. “There is currently no scientific evidence that any of these popular diets improve cancer survival or quality of life,” The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust shares.
“Alternative diets are therefore not recommended.” While doctors discourage unsupervised fasting, some clinical trials (like the DIRECT trial ) are exploring “fasting-mimicking diets” as a way to potentially reduce chemotherapy side-effects.
However, these are medically supervised and typically last less than 48–72 hours. Wespiser is a French beauty queen, television presenter, and actress who rose to fame as Miss France 2012.
She became the first red-haired Miss France in several years, which became her signature look during her reign. Originally from Alsace, she has transitioned into a prominent media career characterised by her outspoken advocacy for animal welfare and her versatile TV presence.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
