Is it true that the body will eat muscle before excess fat if you dont eat for a while?

Question

Now im not considering ne thing so please dont anyone lecture me about anorexia im just wonderin. If someone had say around 50 pounds of excess fat and they fasted is it true that when the body needs energy it will eat the muscle before the fat? thanx.

Answer 1

yes, its true.
What happens is that body thinks there is a crisis and it doesnt know for how long so its using muscle for energy because one pound of muscle is worth much less than fat which is worth whopping 3500cal so it stores all you eat (if you eat a little) in fat reserves for later.
to lose fat you have to eat enough - creating just a slight deficit in calorie intake.

Answer 2

I've read this claim before, and can not find any evidence to prove or disprove it. It's a pity that people here don't back up their statements with either logic, proof or both.

There is some logic behind the body doing what you say, as muscle cells require more energy than fat cells, that is why increasing muscle tone helps with fat loss. More muscle means more energy requirements, therefore it makes sense to reduce muscle cells first during periods of starvation.

I would imagine that how much the muscles were being used would influence this as well.

It has been shown that the body needs fresh fat to efficiently burn existing fat stores.
http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2005/05/67473

It's quite probable that this is indeed true

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Unless you are completely famished and not eating much/anything in many days, then your body will indeed slowly eat away at your muscles to replenish you, because it is the most nutrient source possible. This is indeed true.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

It depend on whether the person is still exercising or not. The body would not burn muscle tissue if it was being frequently used, however, if one was fasting and doing little to no daily exercise, it is highly probably that the body would burn the muscle. This is because the muscle is easier to burn, and has more nutrients that the body desires.

Answer 7

Yeah. what it does to your body is pretty ugly. Not to mention that you'll reek of ketones and no one will want to be near you. Read Chuck Palahniuk's book Haunted for a good description of what happens to you when you starve yourself for too long.

Answer 8

yeah and thats why anorexics wiegh less because well fat weighs more than muscle and if the body needs energy and it will eat on the fat then they will weigh a lot less but its gross because they can be suuuuper skinny and still have love handles and jiggly thighs lol

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

Absolutely not. Your body will burn its fat stores FIRST.