2007-02-09 21:39:59 · 11 answers · asked by Analyst 7 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
An average person has enough fat reserve to live 4-6 weeks without any food. Irreparable damage has been done to the body, including the brain, after 2-3 weeks.
2007-02-09 21:50:47 · answer #1 · answered by Vakari 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what kind of physical condition they are in when they commence not eating and what type of activity they may or not be doing. However, water is the key in keeping the human body alive. Without water a person might if lucky survive 2 weeks, but would experience organ failure much sooner.
Longest period of time i went without eating was 16 days, i was snowed in at a campsite in Alaska and was over two weeks before i was able to get out of their and get some food.
Let me tell ya, you experience some really wierd thoughts and phsycal pain going without food for that extended period of time it is not a pleasant experience.
2007-02-09 22:49:37 · answer #2 · answered by michael_trussell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What keeps coming to my mind is the people in concentration camps and African kids dying from starvation.
Some men rescued at the end of WW2 were very very emaciated. It would be interesting to ask that question to some NGO that works during famine crisis in Africa and to talk to WW2 survivor, if any left.
I believe the human body has infinite capacity to adapt to just about anything. Of course, it depends on your overall health to begin with, the fat mass on the body and availability of water, shelter etc...
2007-02-10 00:24:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I'm not mistaken, a human can live only for a week without water but a month without food.
2007-02-10 06:36:57 · answer #4 · answered by vanhammer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a couple of months...normally...but the human body can only last 3-4 days without water...many people in prison have went on hunger strikes and lasted 6 months...varies from person to person..i am retired us army....and gone 10 days without food before...it was brutal
2007-02-09 21:48:33 · answer #5 · answered by Michael K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how much body mass you start-out with, and how much of that mass is fat (fat stores more energy per gram than muscle). Generally speaking, you can last for a few weeks without food. You would last less than a week without water.
2007-02-09 21:55:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the person, but I've heard stories of people surviving months lost at sea with no food. I bet you can find the record on google.
2007-02-09 21:49:48 · answer #7 · answered by Hans B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 41 days
2007-02-10 00:04:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
normally not beyond 2 weeks but there are also some exceptional cases heard
2007-02-09 21:44:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maximum between Two weeks to - Three weeks i suppose.
2007-02-09 21:45:31 · answer #10 · answered by Liz 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋