In Gaza, thousands of children under five and pregnant or lactating women are experiencing acute malnutrition. In Sudan, millions have been pushed to the brink of starvation, with famine warnings growing more urgent by the day.
As food becomes increasingly scarce, their bodies are moving from undernourishment to acute malnutrition and, finally, starvation.
The process begins with a drop in energy levels. Then the body breaks down fat and then muscle. Eventually, critical organs begin to fail, and the body reaches a point where it can no longer sustain life.
Nutritionists Ola Anabtawi and Berta Valente break down the science behind starvation and what happens to your body when its deprived of food.
Hunger exists on a spectrum. On the one end is food insecurity, where people are forced to adjust to fewer meals. As food becomes scarce, the body consumes its own reserves. The journey from hunger to starvation starts with a drop in energy levels, then the body breaks down fat, then muscle. Eventually, critical organs begin to fail.
From undernourishment to acute malnutrition and finally starvation, the process reaches a point where the body can no longer sustain life. In Gaza today, thousands of children under five and pregnant or lactating women are experiencing acute malnutrition. In Sudan, conflict and restricted humanitarian access have pushed millions to the brink of starvation, with famine warnings growing more urgent by the day.
We asked nutritionists Ola Anabtawi and Berta Valente to explain the science behind starvation and what happens to your body when its deprived of food.