Understanding the Impact of Starvation on the Human Body

Starvation is a severe state of food deprivation that profoundly affects the human body, progressing through distinct stages that gradually compromise vital functions. The process begins with food insecurity, where individuals have limited access to meals. As food becomes increasingly scarce, the body turns to its reserves, starting with glycogen stores in the liver to maintain blood glucose levels. This initial response, glycogenolysis, lasts up to 48 hours. Once glycogen is depleted, the body shifts to gluconeogenesis, producing glucose from non-carbohydrate sources such as amino acids from muscle tissue, leading to muscle breakdown and nitrogen loss.

After about three days without food, ketogenesis predominates. The liver converts fatty acids into ketone bodies, which serve as alternative fuel for the brain and organs, helping to conserve muscle mass. Concurrent hormonal changes, including decreased insulin, thyroid hormones, and nervous system activity, slow the metabolism to conserve energy. Fat becomes the primary energy source, but once fat stores are exhausted, the body begins breaking down proteins, resulting in severe muscle wasting, immune suppression, and heightened vulnerability to infections like pneumonia.

Prolonged starvation often leads to death, typically after 60 to 70 days of severe calorie deficiency in healthy adults. Observable effects include weight loss, muscle wasting, fatigue, slowed heart rate, dry skin, hair loss, and impaired wound healing. Cognitive abilities decline, emotional stability diminishes, and psychological distress, such as apathy, irritability, and anxiety, often occurs. In children, extended malnutrition can cause irreversible stunting in growth and brain development.

The body’s response to starvation is a cautious adaptation, but it comes with significant physiological and psychological costs. In humanitarian crises, such as conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, food shortages exacerbate the trauma and threaten social stability, creating a cycle of hunger and suffering.

Refeeding after starvation must be managed carefully to avoid refeeding syndrome, a life-threatening condition caused by sudden shifts in electrolytes. Treatment protocols start with specialized nutritional support, including therapeutic milks and ready-to-use foods, delivered under strict medical supervision. Restoring food systems, ensuring sustained humanitarian access, and protecting vulnerable populations are crucial to breaking the cycle of starvation.

Source: Medical Xpress