Question about a friend's diet

High school health taught us that less than 1200 calories puts your body into starvation mode, and ends up storing fat, which is why starving people in Africa have big bellies. But I think your body has it's own idea of starvation mode, depending on the amount of calories it burns while at rest (BMR).

This is totally off topic but the thing about starving people in Africa having big bellies is incorrect. I'm studying pharmacy and we learned about this while studying parenteral nutrition. It's called Kwashiorkor malnutrition. It results from an inadequate protein intake. The liver can no longer produce albumin so the oncotic pressure shifts and fluid can no longer stay in your vessels. Their big bellies are not fat, it's fluid that has leaked from their blood vessels.