Like Christopher Reeve stayed slim and was nearly 100% paralyzed. I'm assuming he didn't exercise (could be wrong), and that he still ate.
So, what kept him from becoming 300-400 pounds; like some un-paralyzed people become when they are inactive?
2006-09-16 03:40:39 · 6 answers · asked by Giggly Giraffe 7 in Health ➔ Other - Health
The paralyzed suffer from what is called muscle atrophy. A withering of the muscle due to lack of use. They may do range of motion exercises, but these are mostly to keep limbs from freezing up (contractures), as opposed to building muscle. Paralyzed people also can't feed themselves. They eat whatever diet they are put on and is feed to them by their care-giver (which could be tube feeding). Although nutritious, they have only enough calories to sustain, not empty calories that can be converted to fat. 'Un-paralyzed, morbidly obese people, eat foods that are high in fat and calories (many more than they burn). Although compared to active people, they seem inactive. They Do use muscles. Muscles to chew, muscles to bring food to their mouths, and despite seeming to always sit still, they will get up to go get more food.
2006-09-16 03:53:14 · answer #1 · answered by ***&&*** 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You only get fat if you consume more calories than you can burn off. Obviously Christopher Reeves wasnt eating burgers and chips, infact I think the poor guy must have been fed through a tube.
So they would only give him enough food to survive.
Oh and by the way, I know people in wheelchairs who are very fat! I would be one of those, I do like my pizza's.
2006-09-16 03:43:55 · answer #2 · answered by bruvvamoff 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because they are probably being fed through a peg tube. They should also be getting some type of physical therapy exercises (range of motion exercises to keep muscles from atrophy)
2006-09-16 03:47:51 · answer #3 · answered by Su Z Cue 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like Giggly, some people have way too much free time on their hands...or free space in their heads. Like, I think you fit into one or both of those categories. Like,Get a life before it's too late, like.
2006-09-16 03:50:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their muscles deteriorate from lack of use. Our muscles make up more of our body composition than fat, so they get skinny.
2006-09-16 03:43:10 · answer #5 · answered by TJMiler 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
LOL. SICK QUESTION. THEY TAKE REALLY BIG TURDS OF COURSE!
2006-09-16 03:42:17 · answer #6 · answered by Ask Don 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋