Starvation has physical and emotional effects on the body. Review these facts to learn about these effects and find out why you should never use starvation as a method of weight loss.
Impact
Starvation causes many physiological and psychological changes in the human body. The body is designed to fend for itself when it does not receive adequate nutrition. Metabolism slows down to conserve energy and muscle mass is broken down for energy to conserve fat stores and keep vital organs functioning. People who are starving are more likely to become ill and, in severe cases, die.
Effects of Starvation on the Human Body
Physical Effects
- emaciation
- dehydration
- poor growth
- bone loss
- fragile bones
- poor immune function
- fatigue
- muscle weakness
- dizziness
- sleep disturbance
- constipation
- bloated stomach
- thin, dry hair
- hair loss
- pale skin
- dry, scaly skin
- feeling cold all the time
- bleeding gums
- decaying teeth
- drop in sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen)
- loss of interest in sex
- amenorrhea (no menses)
- momentary blackouts
Emotional and Social Effects
- irritability
- anger
- depression
- anxiety
- personality changes
- loss of emotion
- psychotic episodes
- social withdrawal
Cognitive Effects
- decreased concentration
- slowed reaction times
- problems learning
- loss of ambition
- poor judgment
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment
When World War II was nearing an end, little was known about human starvation or how to treat those who have undergone extreme deprivation. To help the many emaciated civilians who suffered from war, an experiment was performed by Ancel Keys, a young professor of physiology at the University of Minnesota, to find an effective way to give postwar rehabilitation.
In 1944, 36 healthy young men volunteered themselves to semistarvation. For the first 3 months, the men would consume 3200 calories a day. For the next 6 months, they would only receive 1800 calories (with the diet reflecting that in the war-torn areas of Europe - bread, potatoes, macaroni, rutabagas, and turnips). The final 3 months was the rehabilitation period (the men were broken into different groups with different treatments).
The men experienced many of the above signs and symptoms. Two volunteers were excused from the study because they were unable to stick with the diet (one admitted to eating food scraps from garbage cans and the other stole raw rutabagas). Both also suffered severe psychological distress, requiring brief stays in a psychiatric ward.
For some, the rehabilitation period was the most difficult. The length of recovery ranged from 2 months to 2 years.
Starvation Facts on Dieting
The effects of starvation on the human body can be devastating. Losing weight this way over a period of time is not only unhealthy, it is not effective in the long run. Your body hangs on to fat (and what little food you do eat is stored as fat) to prepare itself for famine. Muscle mass is lost (your wasted pounds) and once your metabolism slows down (to conserve energy), it can stay that way even after you resume regular eating. Most people quickly gain their weight back after dieting.
Sources Used
Effects of Restrictive Dieting & Starvation - https://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Resources/Handouts/HORestrictiveDieting.pdf
The Journal of Nutrition: They Starved So That Others Be Better Fed: Remembering Ancel Keys and the Minnesota Experiment - https://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/135/6/1347
The Insider: Why Starvation Diets Never Work - https://www.theinsider.com/news/655915 _Why_Starvation_Diets_Never_Work
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in the public domain).
