Starvation

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/starvation

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Inanition (the physiological state resulting from starvation)
2. How It Works?Progressive catabolism of body tissues (glycogen, fat, muscle, organs) for energy
3. Why does the body break down fat and muscle when it is starving?When food is missing, the body first uses stored sugar, then fat, and finally muscle to make the energy and building blocks the brain and heart need.
4. How much weight can a person lose before it becomes dangerous?People can lose about 18% of their body weight before it gets very dangerous, and those who are heavier can sometimes lose more than 20%.

Inanition: The symptoms and physiological effects of prolonged severe lack of food.
Catabolism: The metabolic process where the body breaks down complex molecules for energy.
Food Insecurity: The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.