Starvation

"Starving" redirects here. For the Hailee Steinfeld song, see Starving (song).
This article is about extreme malnutrition. For other uses, see Starvation (disambiguation).
Starvation
Starving Russian girl during the Russian famine of 1921–1922
SpecialtyCritical care medicine
Symptomsfeeling weak or tired, lack of energy, loss of consciousness
ComplicationsAnemia, low blood sugar, dangerously low blood pressure, organ failure
CausesMalnutrition
Diagnostic methodbased on symptoms
Treatmentintensive care

Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy intake, below the level needed to maintain an organism's life. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage[1] and eventually, death. The term inanition[2] refers to the symptoms and effects of starvation. Starvation by outside forces is a crime according to international criminal law and may also be used as a means of torture or execution.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health.[3][4] The WHO also states that malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in half of all cases.[3] Undernutrition is a contributory factor in the death of 3.1 million children under five every year.[5] The results also demonstrates that as global hunger levels have stabilized, however, despite some progress in specific areas such as stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, an alarming number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition. In fact, the world has been set back 15 years, with levels of undernourishment similar to those in 2008-2009, with between 713 and 757 million people undernourished in 2023, and over 152 million more than in 2019 when the mid-range was 733 million.[6]

The bloated stomach represents a form of malnutrition called kwashiorkor. The exact pathogenesis of kwashiorkor is not clear, as initially it was thought to relate to diets high in carbohydrates (e.g. maize) but low in protein.[7] While many patients have low albumin, this is thought to be a consequence of the condition. Possible causes such as aflatoxin poisoning, oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and altered gut microbiota have been suggested.[8] Treatment can help mitigate symptoms such as the pictured weight loss and muscle wasting, however prevention is of utmost importance.[7]

Without any food, humans usually die in around 2 months.[9] There was a case when someone survived over a year (382 days) under medical supervision.[10] Lean people can usually survive with a loss of up to 18% of their body mass; obese people can tolerate more, possibly over 20%. Biological females survive longer than males.[11][12]

  1. ^ Stratton, Rebecca J.; Green, Ceri J.; Elia, Marinos (2003-01-01). Disease-related Malnutrition: An Evidence-based Approach to Treatment. CABI. ISBN 978-0-85199-648-6. When [food] intake is poor or absent for a long time (weeks), weight loss is associated with organ failure and death.
  2. ^ "Definition of INANITION". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  3. ^ a b "The starvelings". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  4. ^ "As more go hungry and malnutrition persists, achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 in doubt, UN report warns". www.who.int. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  5. ^ "Hunger Stats". World Food Programme.
  6. ^ WHO (24 July 2024). "Hunger numbers stubbornly high for three consecutive years as global crises deepen: UN report". WHO. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Kwashiorkor - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments - Better Medicine". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
  8. ^ "Protein-Energy Malnutrition | Nutrition Guide for Clinicians". PCRM's nutrition guide for clinicians. PCRM. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Blaine emerges from his 44-day 'fast' | Television industry | the Guardian".
  10. ^ "The True Story of a Man Who Survived Without Any Food for 382 Days". 27 February 2017.
  11. ^ Lieberson, Alan D. (November 8, 2004). "How Long Can a Person Survive without Food?". Scientific American. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  12. ^ Burch, Kelly (September 3, 2021). "How many days a person can survive without food or water". Insider. Retrieved 2023-02-14.