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How long can a person survive without eating?

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Replies

  • 2baninja
    2baninja Posts: 519 Member
    because my spell check sucks...
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I read through this whole thing and thus far- this is my take away
    A. it came back up. (yunk yunk yunk- YAY VOMIT JOKES)
    B. people STILL can't read the whole thread
    C. why do people WANT to get pregnant
    D. how the fk did our frail human population survive if we can't bring children to term. Jesu.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    livenfree45 wrote: »
    I'm so amazed that a site that is suppose to be helpful is full of posters just blasting others and calling them lyres.
    Why would anyone call me a musical instrument? :o

    :D
  • Zodikosis
    Zodikosis Posts: 149 Member
    About 3 weeks, give or take, if you are really not intaking anything other than plain water. It's not usually the lack of reserves to burn that kills people, it's things like severe electrolyte imbalance, vitamin deficiencies, etc. That's why obese people can't safely just stop eating for a few months to lose weight. You have to be taking supplements, and even then it's risky. There is more that keeps you alive in food than calories and the 3 basic macronutrients.
  • BitofaState
    BitofaState Posts: 75 Member
    Sadly the experiment has been done with the Hunger strikers in Northern Ireland in 1981.

    The range for those that died (there were 10) was from 46 to 73 days, with the majority dying around the 60-66 day mark. Another 13 took part but were either taken off by their families, or due to the strike ending. One of these participants survived for 70 days.

    There is however a study of an obese patient that went on a 382 day fast under medical supervision in 1965/1966 where vitamins and electrolytes were also administered. He dropped from 456lbs to 180lbs in that time. It's worth noting that the study does point to at least five deaths associated with the treatment of obesity by total starvation, so it's not risk free.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2495396/pdf/postmedj00315-0056.pdf

  • slossia
    slossia Posts: 138 Member
    I’m not sure! But I’ve heard of a very overweight individual that went over a year without food, just water. I think he lost over 200 lbs! I think he started out at 400lbs!! Not sure though, someone can google that!
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    slossia wrote: »
    I’m not sure! But I’ve heard of a very overweight individual that went over a year without food, just water. I think he lost over 200 lbs! I think he started out at 400lbs!! Not sure though, someone can google that!

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2495396/

    The record was 382 days.
  • sugaraddict4321
    sugaraddict4321 Posts: 15,895 MFP Moderator
    Dear Posters,

    I wanted to offer a brief explanation for the locking of this thread.

    The forum guidelines include this item:

    3. No Promotion of Unsafe Weight-Loss Techniques or Eating Disorders
    a) Posts intended to promote potentially unsafe or controversial weight loss products or procedures, including non-medically prescribed supplements or MLM products will be removed without warning.
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    c) Photos intended to glamorize extreme thinness will be deleted.
    d) Those seeking support in their recovery from eating disorders are welcome at MyFitnessPal. A growing list of support resources can be found in our Eating Disorder Resources page.

    If you would like to review the forum guidelines, please visit the following link:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/guidelines

    At our discretion, this locked thread may be deleted entirely in the near future.

    With respect,
    Sugar
    MyFitnessPal Moderator
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