How long can a person survive without eating?

gettingreallyfedupnow

Before anyone assumes this is about extreme, unhealthy diets, no it isn't. I'm not suggesting anyone should stop eating to answer the question.

I am genuinely curious though...Many years ago when I was expecting my daughter, I had extreme hyperemesis and couldn't keep anything down at all, even water. At one stage, even the sight or smell of food made me vomit. I was hospitalised and on a drip, but I went for four months without eating anything at all. I wasn't in a great state - bedridden, sleeping 20 or more hours per day and constant stomach pains. I did survive though and produced an 8lb baby as well. That experience made me wonder - just how long is it possible to survive without food?

cmriverside

You had a drip...that is food.

I have a friend with a 23 YO son who has been on a gastro tube his entire life. He has never "eaten."

gettingreallyfedupnow

No, a drip is just for hydration. Saline, nothing else.

CoachJen71

I heard it as the rule of 3s: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter (when out in the elements,) 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.

cmriverside

You didn't survive for four months while building a baby without added calories, did you? Were you morbidly obese?

ccrdragon

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

No, a drip is just for hydration. Saline, nothing else.

If you were not eating food then the drip also had glucose and other supplements in it to keep you alive.

To answer the original question, the general rule of thumb is 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. Of course, the length of time that you can exist without food is also mitigated by the amount of muscle and body fat that you have that can be used in place of food - meaning that an obese person will likely last longer than a person who has little body fat/muscle to spare. This is one of the reasons that it is recommended for the elderly to be slightly over-weight - it increases survival during illness/recovery when eating might not be feasible.

TavistockToad

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

No, a drip is just for hydration. Saline, nothing else.

And no feeding tube or liquids or anything else in 4 whole months?

jgnatca

This question is just crying out for Dr. Google.

"You can live 3 minutes without air, though we don't recommend trying. In a harsh environment — it's snowing, say — you have 3 hours to survive without shelter. After 3 days, you need water or you'll perish. You can make it 3 weeks without food, though we promise you that won't be fun."

https://www.livescience.com/32320-how-long-can-a-person-survive-without-water.html

Your sugar drip was what was keeping you alive in the hospital.

cwolfman13

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

No, a drip is just for hydration. Saline, nothing else.

Lol...sorry...you were being fed. You and your baby didn't survive on zero calories for four months...you'd be friggin' dead...not to mention, no doctor or hospital would ever do that.

gettingreallyfedupnow

I'm getting quite annoyed here at the number of people disbelieving my post. Yes, I did go for four months with no nutrition. I was on a saline drip - no glucose, no nutrients. Unless you count copious amounts of cyclizine and stemetil, nothing else went into my body.

jgnatca

jgnatca

Why would a doctor deprive a patient of nutrition? It's contrary to the Hippocratic oath. I understand if you weren't fed anything in to your nervous stomach, but you could still be provided nutrition on a glucose drip.

Athena98501

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

I'm getting quite annoyed here at the number of people disbelieving my post. Yes, I did go for four months with no nutrition. I was on a saline drip - no glucose, no nutrients. Unless you count copious amounts of cyclizine and stemetil, nothing else went into my body.

I'm honestly sorry that you're feeling that way, but you were seriously misinformed about your treatment. At the very least, going without other electrolytes for a protracted period such as that literally would've been fatal. The heart cannot function with only sodium and water. You also would've been in ketosis, experienced extreme muscle wasting do to lack of calories and protein, and miscarried.

The_Enginerd

I was in the hospital for less than a week, and could eat, and they still put me on a drip when I came in because my weight was so low. I cannot imagine they would not do the same for someone who could not eat for that length of time.

And yes, I logged it...

cwolfman13

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

I'm getting quite annoyed here at the number of people disbelieving my post. Yes, I did go for four months with no nutrition. I was on a saline drip - no glucose, no nutrients. Unless you count copious amounts of cyclizine and stemetil, nothing else went into my body.

Sorry you feel that way, but you obviously don't know much about your treatment or were missinformed. No hospital is going to only give you fluids for 4 months...you would be dead.

Fuzzipeg

I find this a rather morbid question. I'm sorry you had such a bad reaction to pregnancy. I'm relieved you had the full care and attention of your medical professionals and both you and your child achieved such a happy outcome.

From memory, British Sufferagets on hunger strike lasted longer than three weeks. I'm sure they went longer than three weeks before the authorities started to force feed them till they were a good weight again. I believe they also played "cat and mouse" with them too over this feeding issue.

jdlobb

World record for longest fast is like 45 days I think.

an0nemus

WOOO...I doubt OP is still reading this thread, but I'm kinda curious.

I went to this link:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/69144-caloric-requirements-bedridden/

It says a bedridden person needs 10 calories/lb. Now, obviously that doesn't include growing another person inside of you, but lets go with 10 calories/lb. Your body can magically survive without food/nutrition for four months, so you also don't need extra food to grow a human baby in you. (or any other type of baby for that matter).

Let's assume you were 'chunky' before you went in....and weighed in at 200 lbs.
this link says the average woman weighs at 166.2
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/12/look-at-how-much-weight-weve-gained-since-the-1960s/

That means to MAINTAIN your weight you would need to eat 2000 calories a day, obviously as you lost weight you would need less calories.

To lose 1 lb you need to burn 3500 calories according to this link:
https://www.verywell.com/running-to-lose-weight-how-many-calories-in-a-pound-2911107

So the first few days you're gonna lose over 1 lb every 2 days.
Starting weight 200lbs
Caloric deficit 2000 /day
days: 120 (1 month=30 days X 4(months))

I want to make this a bit easier on my self, so I'm going to say you need 1700 calories every day, and to give you the benefit of the doubt I'm going to say you can live until you weigh 0 lbs.

1700=1 lb every 2 days. 120/2=60 200 -60 =140 lbs.

By that math you could have lived over a year without food. In comparison those concentration camp survivors were wusses!

So gosh YES you could have lived on no food for 4 months. If we ignore things like your body shutting down, your baby leeching nutrients to build itself.

So, a few questions:

1) How much did you weigh going in?
2) How much did you weigh leaving?
3) Are(Did?) you home school?
4) Have you talked to your doctor about your amazing abilities?

Athena98501

an0nemus for the win.

gettingreallyfedupnow

I can't believe that what was a bit of background information to my request has escalated into numerous people insinuating that I am somehow deluded and or misinformed.
Yes, I know glucose drips exist. I didn't have one.
Yes, I was in ketosis. I was tested every morning.
Yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I'm a nurse.
Yes, it did nearly kill me and my baby. I lost weight, my hair fell out, I developed gallstones and I was induced at 38 weeks because although I had been eating normally again for a few months at that point, my kidneys were not in great shape. I was being very closely monitored and was told that if it had gone on any longer, I would have had to have a pic line inserted to get some nutrition to me.

I'm not going to go as far as scanning my medical records to make my point because that would be ridiculous and my medical treatment wasn't the point of this post anyway. I would like people to reflect though on how they would feel if they shared a traumatic experience that had long term repercussions on their health and then had to read that various strangers don't believe them.

Alatariel75

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

I can't believe that what was a bit of background information to my request has escalated into numerous people insinuating that I am somehow deluded and or misinformed.
Yes, I know glucose drips exist. I didn't have one.
Yes, I was in ketosis. I was tested every morning.
Yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I'm a nurse.
Yes, it did nearly kill me and my baby. I lost weight, my hair fell out, I developed gallstones and I was induced at 38 weeks because although I had been eating normally again for a few months at that point, my kidneys were not in great shape. I was being very closely monitored and was told that if it had gone on any longer, I would have had to have a pic line inserted to get some nutrition to me.

I'm not going to go as far as scanning my medical records to make my point because that would be ridiculous and my medical treatment wasn't the point of this post anyway. I would like people to reflect though on how they would feel if they shared a traumatic experience that had long term repercussions on their health and then had to read that various strangers don't believe them.

They let you starve for 4 whole months before they considered nutrition? How did you not sue the holy hell out of this hospital?

TavistockToad

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

I can't believe that what was a bit of background information to my request has escalated into numerous people insinuating that I am somehow deluded and or misinformed.
Yes, I know glucose drips exist. I didn't have one.
Yes, I was in ketosis. I was tested every morning.
Yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I'm a nurse.
Yes, it did nearly kill me and my baby. I lost weight, my hair fell out, I developed gallstones and I was induced at 38 weeks because although I had been eating normally again for a few months at that point, my kidneys were not in great shape. I was being very closely monitored and was told that if it had gone on any longer, I would have had to have a pic line inserted to get some nutrition to me.

I'm not going to go as far as scanning my medical records to make my point because that would be ridiculous and my medical treatment wasn't the point of this post anyway. I would like people to reflect though on how they would feel if they shared a traumatic experience that had long term repercussions on their health and then had to read that various strangers don't believe them.

You've answered your question then. You nearly died after 4 months... so 4 and a bit months.

AnvilHead

Alatariel75 wrote: »

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

I can't believe that what was a bit of background information to my request has escalated into numerous people insinuating that I am somehow deluded and or misinformed.
Yes, I know glucose drips exist. I didn't have one.
Yes, I was in ketosis. I was tested every morning.
Yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I'm a nurse.
Yes, it did nearly kill me and my baby. I lost weight, my hair fell out, I developed gallstones and I was induced at 38 weeks because although I had been eating normally again for a few months at that point, my kidneys were not in great shape. I was being very closely monitored and was told that if it had gone on any longer, I would have had to have a pic line inserted to get some nutrition to me.

I'm not going to go as far as scanning my medical records to make my point because that would be ridiculous and my medical treatment wasn't the point of this post anyway. I would like people to reflect though on how they would feel if they shared a traumatic experience that had long term repercussions on their health and then had to read that various strangers don't believe them.

They let you starve for 4 whole months before they considered nutrition? How did you not sue the holy hell out of this hospital?

Good questions. I find it unconscionable that a hospital would stand by and watch a patient (a pregnant patient, no less) experiencing hair loss, weight loss, gallstones, degraded kidney function and impending death without considering nutrition.

I'm thinking that if something like that happened to my wife while she was in the care of a hospital, we'd be living in a very nice house, driving very nice cars and would have a hospital named after her - because she'd own it.

DanishFeta

I think it matters on a whole bunch of factors.

There was that morbidly obese guy that survived without food for over a year but he was under medical supervision. Every so often they'd give him supplements like Potassium to prevent his heart from stopping and his organs from shutting down. On the other hand there are 1000s of cases of people dieing after deciding to go on starvation diets or VLCDs without medical supervision.

So it depends on your body, your height and weight, how healthy you are and probably genetics. I remember reading an article way back on a GP that believed "Starving" Obese people was a good solution and many others said that he was insane. Both sides had good theories but at the end of the day it comes down to each individual.

Personally I'd don't think i could survive without food for very long. I have anaemia and because of that I have heart issues, so i'd probably die with in a few weeks.

If i can find some of these stories I'll link them if anyone's up for a good read, though, sadly there' s not much research involved. If anyone else can find them, please link them =D

Guy that didn't eat for over 1 year https://www.businessinsider.com.au/angus-barbieri-382-days-without-food-scotsman-fasting-starvation-obesity-2016-10

Another person dying on a VLCD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211954/Bride-crash-diet-death--eating-just-530-calories-day-11-weeks.html

https://www.wildernesscollege.com/basic-survival-skills.html

No real solid research here though =(

Alatariel75

DanishFeta wrote: »

I think it matters on a whole bunch of factors.

There was that morbidly obese guy that survived without food for over a year but he was under medical supervision. Every so often they'd give him supplements like Potassium to prevent his heart from stopping and his organs from shutting down. On the other hand there are 1000s of cases of people dieing after deciding to go on starvation diets or VLCDs without medical supervision.

So it depends on your body, your height and weight, how healthy you are and probably genetics. I remember reading an article way back on a GP that believed "Starving" Obese people was a good solution and many others said that he was insane. Both sides had good theories but at the end of the day it comes down to each individual.

Personally I'd don't think i could survive without food for very long. I have anaemia and because of that I have heart issues, so i'd probably die with in a few weeks.

If i can find some of these stories I'll link them if anyone's up for a good read, though, sadly there' s not much research involved. If anyone else can find them, please link them =D

Guy that didn't eat for over 1 year https://www.businessinsider.com.au/angus-barbieri-382-days-without-food-scotsman-fasting-starvation-obesity-2016-10

Another person dying on a VLCD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211954/Bride-crash-diet-death--eating-just-530-calories-day-11-weeks.html

https://www.wildernesscollege.com/basic-survival-skills.html

No real solid research here though =(

Well, that's coz 'real solid' research would involve unethical and unconscionable methods. Hardly

pinuplove

Alatariel75 wrote: »

DanishFeta wrote: »

I think it matters on a whole bunch of factors.

There was that morbidly obese guy that survived without food for over a year but he was under medical supervision. Every so often they'd give him supplements like Potassium to prevent his heart from stopping and his organs from shutting down. On the other hand there are 1000s of cases of people dieing after deciding to go on starvation diets or VLCDs without medical supervision.

So it depends on your body, your height and weight, how healthy you are and probably genetics. I remember reading an article way back on a GP that believed "Starving" Obese people was a good solution and many others said that he was insane. Both sides had good theories but at the end of the day it comes down to each individual.

Personally I'd don't think i could survive without food for very long. I have anaemia and because of that I have heart issues, so i'd probably die with in a few weeks.

If i can find some of these stories I'll link them if anyone's up for a good read, though, sadly there' s not much research involved. If anyone else can find them, please link them =D

Guy that didn't eat for over 1 year https://www.businessinsider.com.au/angus-barbieri-382-days-without-food-scotsman-fasting-starvation-obesity-2016-10

Another person dying on a VLCD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211954/Bride-crash-diet-death--eating-just-530-calories-day-11-weeks.html

https://www.wildernesscollege.com/basic-survival-skills.html

No real solid research here though =(

Well, that's coz 'real solid' research would involve unethical and unconscionable methods. Hardly

You mean you're not willing to starve to death for science?

VintageFeline

Can we have the name of the hospital/doctors that were letting you starve to death over 4 months so we know to avoid it like the plague?

This is the weirdest humblebrag I've ever seen I think. I survived 4 months! I was pregnant! The hospital didn't give a *kitten*!

Scubdup

[edited by mods]

I'm intrigued about the OP's case - I cannot believe the body can go that long without any nutrition whatsoever - in fact the articles above suggest that after just a month there is a serious risk of organ failure.

What I really don't understand is not the how, but the why - why would drs without nutrition - what medical benefit did that confer?

crackpotbaby

gettingreallyfedupnow wrote: »

I can't believe that what was a bit of background information to my request has escalated into numerous people insinuating that I am somehow deluded and or misinformed.
Yes, I know glucose drips exist. I didn't have one.
Yes, I was in ketosis. I was tested every morning.
Yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I'm a nurse.
Yes, it did nearly kill me and my baby. I lost weight, my hair fell out, I developed gallstones and I was induced at 38 weeks because although I had been eating normally again for a few months at that point, my kidneys were not in great shape. I was being very closely monitored and was told that if it had gone on any longer, I would have had to have a pic line inserted to get some nutrition to me.

I'm not going to go as far as scanning my medical records to make my point because that would be ridiculous and my medical treatment wasn't the point of this post anyway. I would like people to reflect though on how they would feel if they shared a traumatic experience that had long term repercussions on their health and then had to read that various strangers don't believe them.

As you are a nurse you would know that to be given just saline and not rotate with 3% & 1/3, Hartmann, parental potassium etc would completely mess up your electrolytes. Lethal cardiac arrythmia; hyponatremia leading to seizure, coma, death. Etc etc ...

Noreenmarie1234

Holy crap you should sue the hospital... I am a newly graduated physician and this would never ever happen unless your doctors were severely incompetent so you really should sue the hospital. Why didn't your family and loved ones ask the doctors to give you nutrition if you were being starved????

MinuitMinuet

Had the same issue with my first pregnancy but wasn't hospitalized. I went from a 160 to 128 in a couple of months. Couldn't keep anything down. The doctor told me I was going to kill my baby if I didn't eat and gave me nausea medication (which I never took.) I forced my self to nibble food and fight the urge to run to the bathroom. It didn't end till second semester. I was so thin by then that strangers on the street thought I was homeless and would offer me food...which only made me gag and run to a trash can at just the suggestion. Sucked. An ultra sound at a specialist revealed my son would be born only 4 pounds. He was 8.6 pounds.

As for how long you can go without food? I think it would depend on your body size. Jesus went 40 days. I went nearly 2 months while pregnant. I starved myself to lose weight after my second baby was born. That was about 2 months also but I was over 200pounds then. But 3 weeks I think would be average.