How many days can someone go w/out eating before they pass out?

Question

I have a friend who's depressed over a break-up and I can't get her to eat. It's only been two days, but where's the breaking point before I have to shove food in her mouth?

Answer 1

There's a general rule of three when it comes to bodily essentials. Humans can live 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water and 3 minutes without air. This rule varies, of course, depending on particular situations and if she's doesn't start eating her body will start digesting all of it's fat stores. Once those are gone it will start digesting itself, starting with the less essential organs. In most cases (assuming she's in generally good health) she'll be okay for 3 or 4 days without food. She'll sleep more, to conserve energy, when she's awake she'll feel faint and dizzy, she may be disoriented, maybe even nauseated. Right about this time is when she NEEDS to start eating.

Note: She'll be OKAY for 3 or 4 days without food, it's not healthy and it's not adviseable to skip meals for any period of time. The body functions best when it's fueled properly. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

To answer your question, you can go around 5 days without food before you have serious long term problems as long as you still are drinking water. You should get your friend help immediatly though. What shes doing is not healthy, and could be called a psychological disorder. You need to tell either your mom or hers (if your under 18) or get her a counsolor if your 18+

Answer 3

Although she will get weaker day by day, people can actually live without food for a month or longer. What counts is if she is not drinking anything. In that case, she will need to be hospitalized within three days to prevent dehydration shutting down her kidneys and other body systems.

Answer 4

That is going to depend a lot on how much she weighs now, what activities she engages in (if any), and whether she is drinking. Without water, it will happen much more quickly. Try to get her to at least take in nutritional fluids, like broth, Ensure or other "replacement" meal fluids used by dieters. That should help some.

Answer 5

You could go for like 2 weeks without food but only days without water.

Answer 6

After a few days (probably 3-4) she will be weak, then probably a week she might drop.

It depends some people can go longer.

I once went 3 days without food.

Answer 7

Depends. How much body fat does she have? If she's hypoglycemic or has heart problems then she might have already passed out a couple times. If she neither of those, I'd give her 2 days or so before she passes out. She needs help! Now!!

Answer 8

There used to be a common rule of three's;
3 minutes without air
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

but like anything, these are guidelines, personal differences such as age, weight, physical condition can vary them enormously

Answer 9

depends on the person....a bigger person will last longer with no food then a smaller person. Water is essential though....only a few days without water

Answer 10

well see theres a difference between not eating becasue you think your fat (anorexia) & not eating of depression. she may just not be hungary. dont force her to eat just bring up the subject VERY lightly. be like "(whatever her names is), i'm really worried about you. i know your upset & all but you need to eat. i'm here for you to talk to"