Survival without food?

[coach hale]

Survival Without Food?

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How long can a human survive without food? It depends. An obese subject studied by Stuart and Fleming (1973) successfully fasted for 382 days. He entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest “total” fast (United Nations University). Other authors have reported successful fasts in obese subjects of 100-300 days. In general, survival time in lean subjects is less than 80 days. Newspaper reports indicate that in 1981 a Northern Ireland Fester died of starvation in 45 days. The decreased survival time was probably due to a previous gunshot wound to the hip. The body’s attempt to fight off illness increases calorie expenditure, thus speeding up the starvation process.

Individual responses to starvation vary. Much of what we know about starvation comes from studies on obese subjects, however the information found in these studies may not be applicable to lean active individuals. Starvation-induced death is generally contributed to decreases in vital organ size and function, caused by significant losses in bodily proteins.

coach hale

[Katydid77]

My Dad has done a few 21 day fasts, and I have an uncle that has done 2- 40 day fasts.

The uncle was hospitalized on the last fast, but he also has diabetes too, and was still able to go the 40 days, though admittedly he was reallllly close to dying and went into a coma for a while . . .

[diamondpete]

Katy

I just keep on getting draw back to this... but since no one else has asked..

Why do they fast (particularly in your uncle's case)?

cheers

Peter

[Katydid77]

Originally Posted by diamondpete

Katy

I just keep on getting draw back to this... but since no one else has asked..

Why do they fast (particularly in your uncle's case)?

cheers

Peter

Both for religious reasons. Dad pastored a church for a few years, and he would do a 21 day fast about once a year or so. (that is Daniel's fast for anyone familiar with the term ~ it mimics the 21 day fast that Daniel sought God with in the Old Testament)

My uncle did it for religious reasons as well, though he was not a pastor or anything. The 40 day fast comes from the temptation of Christ in the desert. Most people that I know that do this fast, do a modified version ~ say 40 days where you give up 'fast food', or sweets, I guess it would be akin to giving up something for Lent.

I am sure both are considered extreme and I don't see them as being very popular in today's 'modern' church environment.

I personally haven't done any type of fast like this, and I know my Dad hasn't done it since he gave up the church, probably 25 years ago or so.

**edit in ~ since you particularly asked about my Uncle, I will say that he is a very different personality from my Dad (or other's that I have known that have fasted in similar ways) My uncle is the nicest guy ever, but he is a very extreme personality. Believe me, if you knew him, it just fits his personality type. He kinda reminds me of the Old Quaker types . . just quiet and goes about their way, but does things very much according to their personal convictions. That is my Uncle to a T **

[diamondpete]

Thanks for sharing. Religious regions did cross my mind but I could not think of any religion off hand that does 40 day fasts.

Cheers

Peter

[Etana]

My dad fasted twice for about 3 weeks, just water. He got a rash between his fingers (he thought from the oil/chemical he used in his precision machined products business). I think the first time, it cured it. I can't remember why he fasted the second time, but I think it didn't solve his issue. It certainly didn't solve his grouchiness.

[LisaS]

Originally Posted by coach hale

Survival Without Food?

How long can a human survive without food? It depends. An obese subject studied by Stuart and Fleming (1973) successfully fasted for 382 days.

Italics are mine - did anyone else wonder at first if the fast was unsuccessful on day 383 because the faster died?

Also - can one unsuccessfully fast for 382 days? What would that look like?

sorry - just have my smart-a$$ hat on today.

[Gen]

Originally Posted by LisaS

Italics are mine - did anyone else wonder at first if the fast was unsuccessful on day 383 because the faster died?

Also - can one unsuccessfully fast for 382 days? What would that look like?

sorry - just have my smart-a$$ hat on today.

I've unsuccessfully fasted for the past 382 days straight.