How Long Can A Person Live Without Food?

The question of how long a person can survive without food often arises in contexts like reality shows challenging contestants to endure extreme deprivation or societal pressures for thinness. However, the question itself raises concerns, as attempting starvation is unhealthy and dangerous.

Medical professionals, psychologists, and scientists suggest that the reason for starvation significantly impacts survival duration. Political prisoners, driven by a strong will to live, may endure harsh conditions for weeks, while those at the end of life, seeking peace, may succumb faster. The mind plays a powerful role in survival, with some professionals arguing that starvation’s effects depend on mental resilience.

The answer to how long one can survive without food is both simple and complex, depending on factors like body weight, mental state, willpower, hydration levels, and climate. Below, we explore the key factors influencing starvation survival rates.

Factors Influencing Starvation Survival

Most doctors and nutritionists state that the average person can survive 4 to 6 weeks without food, but only about a week without water. Notable cases include activists who undertook starvation protests for political or religious reasons. Of twelve well-known starvation protests, two individuals lost their tongues, one lost their feet, seven required dialysis, and two died, with fasts lasting 4 to 6 weeks.

Political starvation is more common outside the U.S., as seen in 1981 when ten Irish political prisoners, consuming only sips of water, fasted to protest British presence. They died after 46 to 73 days. War victims and those in torturous conditions have survived fasts of 28 to 40 days.

During the Holocaust, hundreds of thousands of Jewish prisoners survived on minimal food—estimated at 300 to 600 calories daily—under brutal conditions. Limited documentation makes it hard to pinpoint why some survived while others starved, but survivor accounts highlight extreme deprivation.

Terminally ill patients who refuse food and hydration to hasten death typically survive 10 days to 3 weeks, depending on initial hydration and minimal water intake (e.g., ice chips). Those removed from artificial nourishment usually pass within 10 to 14 days, though overhydration may extend this slightly.

You Can Live 4 to 6 Weeks Without Food

Body fat significantly affects survival. Obese individuals can last 4 to 25 weeks or longer, as their metabolism draws energy from fat reserves. Slower metabolisms also prolong survival by conserving energy, much like a car using less fuel at lower speeds. In contrast, a faster metabolism depletes energy reserves more quickly.

Climate plays a critical role. High heat accelerates dehydration, while cold temperatures demand more energy to maintain body warmth. The body is most comfortable between 68 and 79°F, potentially extending survival by one to three days. Extreme temperatures, however, can cause death before starvation fully sets in.

Historically, many cultures practiced fasting for spiritual purity, sometimes lasting weeks to seek divine guidance. Modern religious fasts, common in non-Christian faiths, typically last only until sundown and are carefully monitored. Children, the elderly, and the ill are exempt, as fasting while unwell is considered harmful. Long-term fasts are no longer deemed safe due to health risks, and participants must stop if they feel ill.

Anorexia, a serious mental health disorder, alters how the body responds to starvation. Anorexics, who have trained their bodies to function on minimal food, may survive longer without eating than those with healthy eating habits. Their damaged metabolisms slow dramatically at the onset of starvation, conserving energy. However, anorexia is deadly, and self-starvation can trigger the disorder even in those without prior history. The causes of anorexia remain poorly understood, with no clear link to specific expectations or their absence.

Equally concerning is the Breatharian movement, which claims people can live on sunlight and minimal liquids. Leaders charge $20,000 to $100,000 to teach this practice, yet some face trials for deaths linked to their teachings. Despite claims of well-stocked kitchens belonging to others, Breatharians assert they’ve retrained their bodies to derive nutrients from air. They argue this could solve world hunger, yet dismiss deaths as failures of “spiritual warriors.” Such practices are dangerous and lack scientific credibility.