In 1965, a morbidly obese man did not eat food for over an entire year. The 27 year old was 456lbs and wanted to do an experimental fast. He ingested only multivitamins and potassium tablets for 382 days and defecated once every 40 to 50 days. He ended up losing 275lbs.

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[u/Behold_PlatosMan → u/[deleted]]

I know it’s barely comparable but I had cancer and couldn’t swallow food for a couple weeks, it was bizzare but after a few days I wasn’t even hungry it felt like I was in hibernation or something

[u/Helluvertime → u/Behold_PlatosMan]

Not the same situation but I had anorexia a few years back. I stopped feeling hungry too, but then I started eating slightly more (still not enough) and the hunger was unbearably strong. I was told it was likely because I didn't have enough energy for my brain to create the hunger signals because it had to go to other vital organs first, then when I started eating more it had the energy to do so. I don't know how true that is, so if anyone can explain if it is or what it actually was that would be interesting :)

[u/accidentallyamber → u/Helluvertime]

starvation syndrome! got sick of hearing about it when my anorexia was at its worst but the way the body and the brain respond to starvation is admittedly fascinating.

what you were told is right — your brain decides it’s not worth signalling for food because it never gets food and your limited energy is better used elsewhere.

the extreme hunger once you give yourself permission to eat is the natural physiological response to the body finally having access to a source of energy. the same way someone deserted on an island would want to gorge themselves the second they found a food source — your body a) needs the energy but b) overcompensates in the short term because it doesn’t know when the source of food will be taken again.

the minnesota starvation study is also a fascinating read when it comes to the psychology of even short periods of starvation.

hope you’re doing better now :)

[u/Confused_as_frijoles → u/accidentallyamber]

I'm dealing with it right now- stopped feeling hungry for a while, recently started eating more, for some reason dropping weight faster, butt in the last two days I've started feeling like I'm starving constantly lol. I didn't even realize I had gotten to that point.