Stages of Starvation

With the ongoing starvation in Gaza, it has become crucial to share with you the stages the body goes through in such harsh conditions.

Stage 1: 6-24 Hours
At this stage, the body begins using stored glycogen in the liver as an energy source for the brain and muscles. Mood changes may occur, but no significant neurological symptoms are present yet.

Stage 2: 1-3 Days
Glycogen stores are depleted, and the body shifts to breaking down fats (to produce ketones) and muscles (to convert amino acids into glucose). The brain enters an “alarm phase,” which increases stress levels.

Stage 3: 3-7 Days
By this stage, the body is entirely dependent on ketones for energy. It reduces energy supply to non-essential parts of the body to conserve energy. This leads to decreased neural activity in the brain, resulting in a state of “emotional numbness” or apathy.

Stage 4: 1-3 Weeks
Metabolism sharply decreases. The body may stop supplying energy to certain organs (such as muscles and the reproductive system). There is severe weakness and a slow heart rate, and the person may reach a point of hopelessness about survival.
It’s worth noting that the adult heart, which weighs around 300 grams, can shrink to 140 grams in the later stages of starvation.

Stage 5: 3 Weeks or More
This is the most dangerous stage, where the body begins consuming vital organs’ proteins (like the liver and heart), and the immune system collapses. Permanent damage may occur, and the body enters a state of slow death. Loss of consciousness or hallucinations may happen due to brain electrical disturbances from a lack of glucose and sodium. Physical symptoms may become fatal, especially since the body is unable to fight diseases due to the collapse of the immune system.
This stage can even occur with small amounts of food intake, such as 300-500 calories a day.

In the advanced stages of starvation, the person no longer feels the hunger we recognize. Instead, they experience depression, helplessness, and surrender. This isn’t just psychological—it’s biological, due to the lack of neurotransmitters.

Dr. Rania Abu Snaineh, an anesthesiologist, says:
“Some doctors collapsed in the operating rooms from severe hunger; their bodies could no longer withstand it.”

These stages mirror those experienced by individuals suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, but the difference is that the people in Gaza are being subjected to collective and forced starvation for political or military purposes.

I strongly condemn the starvation being inflicted upon our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Please remember them in your prayers.

Sources:

• Long-Term Starvation and Human Adaptation (Evelyn Tribole, Elyse Resch – Intuitive Eating)

• Minnesota Starvation Experiment

• WebMD

• Starvation and the Brain: Impact on Mental Health (Psychology Today)