How long does it take to starve without eating

Healthy adults can usually survive for 1-2 months in a completely fasting state, and the actual time is affected by factors such as basal metabolic rate, body fat content, water availability, environmental temperature, and health status. The energy expenditure of the human body follows specific physiological mechanisms. In the initial 24-72 hours, liver glycogen reserves are mainly consumed, followed by fat breakdown for energy supply. At this time, hypoglycemia reactions such as fatigue and dizziness may occur. When the body fat percentage drops to nearly 5%, the body is forced to break down muscle protein to maintain life, and important organ functions gradually decline. Long term hunger can lead to electrolyte imbalance, multiple organ dysfunction, and ultimately death due to heart failure or severe infection. In extreme cases, records show that obese individuals survive for more than 300 days under medical supervision by supplementing vitamins and water, relying solely on their own fat reserves. However, individuals of ordinary weight who completely fast for more than 60 days face a high risk of death. The tolerance time of children, pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases is significantly shortened, and patients with diabetes may have fatal ketoacidosis. Maintaining drinking water while hungry can prolong survival, but simply replenishing water cannot prevent organ damage. If encountering unexpected fasting, priority should be given to finding foods containing electrolytes and micronutrients to avoid sudden overeating and causing refeeding syndrome. Any involuntary long-term hunger requires immediate medical intervention, and professionals will develop a progressive nutritional supplementation plan based on blood test results.