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Cosmopolitan accused of pushing cancer as a weight loss plan

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Popular woman's magazine Cosmopolitan was blasted by an angry Twitter mob this week after it tweeted out a controversial weight loss article. 

The piece – "How This Woman Lost 44 Pounds Without Any Exercise" – sounded like a typical advice column until it was revealed that the woman profiled was suffering from cancer.

The article profiles 31-year-old Simone Harbinson, who was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection in 2014 before testing positive for a malignant carcinoid tumour of the appendix. She underwent multiple surgeries and endured several complications. Harbinson also had a partial lung collapse, PTSD and damaged a disc in her back.

The article does go on to shift its focus to her weight loss, which included following a diet called The Bod.

While the article never directly states that cancer helped Harbinson lose the weight, many Twitter users took it that way.

Cosmo's original tweet has since been deleted, but that didn't stop Twitter users from sharing their opinions.

"Well, sure. Get cancer and spend a significant amount of time in the hospital and the weight just falls off. Come on!!" tweeted one user.

"Do better, Cosmo. Do better," tweeted another.

".@Cosmopolitan you literally are click baiting people for a weight-loss article where the secret was cancer," another pointed out.

New York Post's Page Six reports the headline has since been changed to: "A Serious Health Scare Helped Me Love My Body More Than Ever." The paper also reports that Cosmo edited the piece to add a line stating: "Simone's weight loss success is proof that ANYONE can lose weight without breaking a sweat simply by eating more mindfully - no gym required."

Cosmo has yet to comment publicly on the controversy. 

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