An anorexic woman who weighs the same as a four-year-old has reportedly been told by her doctor that she could play a "living corpse in a horror movie".

Kristina Karyagina, from Barnaul in south-central Russia, weighs just 2st 7lb (17kg) and has spent years surviving on a diet consisting mainly of tiny pieces of apple and banana.

The dangerously underweight 26-year-old, who stopped eating properly during high school, has been told that she could die within a year if she is not treated.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT AHEAD

Her serious condition came to public attention after a reality TV star in her home country began a campaign online to get her treatment before it was too late.

Maria Kokhno, who used to be anorexic herself, called out to her 520,000 Instagram followers, raising 110,000 RUB ($1645.39) to fly Karyagina and her mother to Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia for treatment.

The Doma-2 star's former specialist, Dr Yan Goland has agreed to treat Karyagina for free.

Speaking of why she chose to help Karyagina, Kokhno said: "I know what it is like when someone puts a meal in front of you and you cannot eat it. Even when you are aware that you are dying, you still cannot eat."

Karyagina is already lighter than many people who have died of anorexia in the past; the illness can kill those who weigh around 40lb (18kg) to 56lb (25kg) by causing serious organ damage.

However, Dr Goland reportedly believes that if he can change the 26-year-old's attitude to the serious mental illness, she has a chance of recovery.

In a recent appointment, he allegedly asked his patient: "Have you ever thought about playing a part in a horror movie? A living corpse perhaps?"

Although the young woman is a long way from a full recovery, her treatment appeared to hit a milestone recently when she managed to eat something other than small bites of fruit for the first time in months, during the second day of her treatment.

"Several days ago I saw my daughter eating kasha (a type of dry roasted grains) and I could not believe my own eyes!" her mother Marina said. "Before that day, her daily diet included only a tiny piece of apple or banana, water and juice."

"Today, Kristina ate for the first time since last year," reality TV star Kokhno told the camera in a video. "She now knows that anything is possible, it is very important."

Before she started her treatment, Karyagina recorded a video of her own, thanking everyone who had helped to raise money for her.

In the footage, she allegedly says: "Hello everybody. I am planning to go to a hospital soon. I want to thank you for your moral and financial support. See you in Nizhny Novgorod."

If you are suffering from an eating disorder, please don't hesitate to get help as soon as possible. Call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline on (800) 931-2237 or message the Crisis Text Line by sending "NEDA" to 741741.

An anorexic woman who weighs the same as a four-year-old has reportedly been told by her doctor that she could play a "living corpse in a horror movie".

Kristina Karyagina, from Barnaul in south-central Russia, weighs just 2st 7lb (17kg) and has spent years surviving on a diet consisting mainly of tiny pieces of apple and banana.

The dangerously underweight 26-year-old, who stopped eating properly during high school, has been told that she could die within a year if she is not treated.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT AHEAD

Her serious condition came to public attention after a reality TV star in her home country began a campaign online to get her treatment before it was too late.

Maria Kokhno, who used to be anorexic herself, called out to her 520,000 Instagram followers, raising 110,000 RUB ($1645.39) to fly Karyagina and her mother to Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia for treatment.

The Doma-2 star's former specialist, Dr Yan Goland has agreed to treat Karyagina for free.

Speaking of why she chose to help Karyagina, Kokhno said: "I know what it is like when someone puts a meal in front of you and you cannot eat it. Even when you are aware that you are dying, you still cannot eat."

Karyagina is already lighter than many people who have died of anorexia in the past; the illness can kill those who weigh around 40lb (18kg) to 56lb (25kg) by causing serious organ damage.

However, Dr Goland reportedly believes that if he can change the 26-year-old's attitude to the serious mental illness, she has a chance of recovery.

In a recent appointment, he allegedly asked his patient: "Have you ever thought about playing a part in a horror movie? A living corpse perhaps?"

Although the young woman is a long way from a full recovery, her treatment appeared to hit a milestone recently when she managed to eat something other than small bites of fruit for the first time in months, during the second day of her treatment.

"Several days ago I saw my daughter eating kasha (a type of dry roasted grains) and I could not believe my own eyes!" her mother Marina said. "Before that day, her daily diet included only a tiny piece of apple or banana, water and juice."

"Today, Kristina ate for the first time since last year," reality TV star Kokhno told the camera in a video. "She now knows that anything is possible, it is very important."

Before she started her treatment, Karyagina recorded a video of her own, thanking everyone who had helped to raise money for her.

In the footage, she allegedly says: "Hello everybody. I am planning to go to a hospital soon. I want to thank you for your moral and financial support. See you in Nizhny Novgorod."

If you are suffering from an eating disorder, please don't hesitate to get help as soon as possible. Call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline on (800) 931-2237 or message the Crisis Text Line by sending "NEDA" to 741741.