How long can you live without food and what starts to happen to you?

Answer 1

The answer to this question completely depends on many different factors. Gender, age, weight, body mass index, metabolic rate, and physical activity level determine how long the body can go without food. When no source of glucose from the food you eat is ingested, the body will eventually begin to convert the energy your brain needs into a hormone called keytones. The brain can only survive off of keytones for a short amount of time and other sources of energy will be harvested. Fat and protein loss will follow leaving the body very frail, thin, weak, and unhealthy. Hypoglycemia will be the first effect of not taking in food. The effects of hypoglycemia include headache, sweating, a racing heart, fatigue, mood swings, and the inability to focus.

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According to the World Health Organization starvation is the leading killer in the world with one person dying from it every second. Also according to the WHO about 17% of the people in the world have insufficient food.

Depending on a number of factors a person can live without food or water for about 10-14 days. This can be markedly shorter in hot climates.

If a person can get adequate water but not food they can live for weeks to a few months without food, again, depending on a number of factors such as pre-existing stores and metabolic levels.