Resource: Biology of Human Starvation

The Biology of Human Starvation:
A Look at the Impact of Voluntary Food Restriction

The following information is based on Ancel Keys’ classic 1950 book which reviewed his study of the physical and mental reactions of wartime conscientious objectors.

men ate 1,570 calories/day for 6 months (comparable to ~ 1,300 calories/day for women)
lost 24% of body weight (the current ideal for women is 23% thinner than average)

Physical Changes

decreased body size, especially in upper arm
decreased heart volume
slowed pulse rate
BMR reduced by 40% (women experience greater decrease)
subjects felt cold, complained of cold hands and feet
voluntary movements became slower
decreased capacity to work
decrease in strength, endurance
increased frequency of urination
subjects felt older, behaved older

Personality Changes

Personality Changes
increase in apathy and depression
decrease in mental alertness, comprehension and concentration
deterioration of spontaneous activity
loss of ambition
narrowing of interests
general feeling of ineffectiveness
distraction
frustrated by discrepancy between what they wanted to do and what they did do
decrease in sexual interest
increased neurotism (typically seen as a “woman’s problem”)
increased hysteria (also typically seen as a “woman’s problem”)
almost 20% of subjects showed severe “character neurosis”
two subjects bordered on psychosis including violence and hysteria
sensitivity to noise

Food Preoccupation

increase in food interest…food talk, food interests
collected recipes, studies cookbooks and menus, fixed food saved from mealtime
heightened craving for food
much meal planning
food dislikes disappeared (they like the monotonous meals served)
became possessive about food
demanded food and beverages be hot
toyed with food to make it seem like more
dawdled over meals for hours
extensive gum chewing
increased drinking of coffee and tea
increased smoking
nail-biting became common
began to purchase useless articles they did not need or use, others began hordingmoney
some escaped the experiment environment and binged, followed by feelings of guilt andself-reproach
some vomited following binges

Social Activities

initial lively, responsive, tolerant and happy, with good humor and high spirits…this gradually disappeared…subjects became sober, serious and what humor remained tended to be sarcastic
became reluctant to make group decisions or plan activities
reluctant to participate in group activities, “too much trouble dealing with others”
became self-centered and egocentric
social interaction stilted, politeness artificial
food central topic of conversations
not able to control emotions

During Refeeding (It took between 15 and 20 weeks to partially recover from the effects of dieting and weight loss. It appears, then, that one can expect to feel worse when coming off a prolonged weight loss period.)

intake between 1,877 and 4,158 kcal
many became more irritable and depressed
slump in morale, subjects lost all interest in earlier humanitarian concerns
became argumentative
expressed feelings of being “let down”
hunger pains “more intense than ever”
appetites insatiable for 12 weeks, even those on highest kcal diets
found it hard to stop eating, although “stuffed”
still concerned with food, above all else
table manner’s continued to deteriorate
week 13 of refeeding subjects had access to food, ate an average of 5,218 kcal, atenearly continuously, either ate or slept
by week 15, increase in social behavior at meals
by week 20, all felt nearly normal with food
by week 33, 10 of 14 were eating normal amounts, others still ate more than before
slowly humor, enthusiasm and sociability returned

Physical Effects of Refeeding

expected relief did not come quickly
subjects gained fat tissue rapidly, “soft, roundness” became their dominant characteristic
lean tissue recovered more slowly
sleepiness and headaches increased for some
thirst increased
work capacity increased by week 13