Exclusive | Astronaut Sunita Williams weight loss triggers NASA race to help her pack on the pounds: I gasped out loud when I saw the last picture

NASA doctors are frantically trying to help stranded astronaut Sunita Williams pack on the pounds after she has suffered a “significant” weight loss since arriving at the International Space Station in June.Newly released photos show Williams, 59, appearing jarringly gaunt, with sunken cheeks and a noticeably thinner frame.“She has lost a lot of weight,” said a NASA employee who is directly involved in the mission and has attended multiple briefings.

“The pounds have melted off her and she’s now skin and bones.So it’s a priority to help her stabilize the weight loss and hopefully reverse it.” Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore passed their pre-mission physicals before the space flight, and were only slated to be on the ISS for eight days.

But when their Boeing Starliner experienced technical malfunctions, they became stranded in space.A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will give them a ride home — but it’s not due to return to Earth until February.They have now been in space for 155 days.

According to the NASA source, the 5-foot-8 Williams began the mission at approximately 140 lbs.But as the mission dragged on, Williams was unable to keep up with the high-caloric diets that astronauts must consume, the source said.

Due to changes in their metabolisms, astronauts have eat twice as many calories as earthbound humans need each day.“They have to eat about 3,500 to 4,000 calories per day, just to maintain their current weight,” said the NASA employee.“And when you start falling behind, your weight drops fast.” Adding to the issue: They must also exercise for more than two hours each day to maintain their muscle mass and bone density in a zero-G environment, burning even more calories.Williams, an avid runner, became the first person to run a marathon in space in 2007 by running along with the Boston Marathon on a treadmill.To put on weight, Williams could have to eat up to 5,000 daily calories, the source said.The average woman on Ear...