Losing fat vs losing muscle

emmab0902

Hi

I have read tonnes about the infamous starvation mode etc and wondered this: Is there a set (or approximate) body fat percentage below which a significant calorie deficit will result in muscle loss/slowed metabolism and preservation of fat stores?? Does this occur when a person hits essential body fat % - I am assuming that for persons carrying a higher percentage of fat the body would burn this as preferred fuel source, and am curious when this shifts.

This is NOT intended to debate the starvation mode or for personal opinioins, hoping to get science based answers :-)