Does a fever burn fat or muscle

During a fever, the main consumption is muscle rather than fat. The human body may accelerate the breakdown of protein for energy supply when in a feverish state, while fat metabolism may be inhibited.

In a feverish state, the body is in a high metabolic state, and protein breakdown metabolism is significantly enhanced. For every 1 degree Celsius increase in body temperature, the basal metabolic rate increases by about ten percent. At this time, proteins in muscle tissue are preferentially broken down into amino acids, which are converted into energy through gluconeogenesis. This mechanism is different from long-term hunger, as short-term fever tends to utilize protein rather than fat reserves. Muscle loss may manifest as symptoms such as limb weakness and weight loss, especially when high fever persists for several days. The metabolism of adipose tissue is relatively slow during fever. Although theoretically, an increase in body temperature may promote fat breakdown, in reality, inflammatory factors can interfere with the normal metabolism of adipocytes. Some studies have shown that inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor may inhibit lipolytic enzyme activity, leading to a decrease in fat mobilization efficiency. This is also why patients with long-term chronic inflammation may experience muscle atrophy accompanied by fat accumulation in a special posture.

It is recommended to maintain sufficient intake of high-quality protein during fever, such as easily digestible proteins like egg whites and fish, to help reduce muscle breakdown. At the same time, pay attention to supplementing vitamin B and electrolytes to maintain normal metabolic function. After the body temperature returns to normal, impedance training combined with moderate aerobic exercise can help muscles recover, avoiding deliberately reducing food intake or engaging in vigorous exercise during fever periods. If the high fever persists for more than three days or is accompanied by obvious soreness and weakness, timely medical attention should be sought to investigate potential causes such as infection.