The Minnesota Starvation Experiment BBC Article

mumblemagic

Hi All,

Interesting article today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25782294

Thoughts people?

Stimpane12

Very brave of those volunteers! Interesting to read how some coped by reading cook books and how some became particulary sensitive to noise. I did LighterLife a couple of years ago to lose the last 3 stone out of my overall 10 stone weight loss and in 11 weeks I lost 4 stone. Shocking! Whilst I enjoyed the results I survived by constantly reading about food, baking for other people, watching food show after food show. And I was very sensitive to noise come the end of the day. I would get home from work and shy away from noise/lights for a good hour or so. I did also acheive a lot whilst on the programme - promotion at work, opened my own business, maintained going to the gym - but I wouldnt recommend it, its not the healthy way to lose weight. And as everyone would tell you, the weight does come back even if you are careful, it just creeps back on. Slow and steady wins the race for a healthy life.

DamePiglet

I'd read the paper, but reading a personal account made it more human. The whole thing was just saddening, really.


Edited for over-use of personal.

mccindy72

I can certainly see the merit of an experiment like this. It's interesting to note that the man quoted in the story is still alive and well at 95 after doing a starvation experiment like this. I wonder if the results of this study are still used today to treat anorexia and refugees from countries in Africa and Asia where starvation is prevalent.