Eli5 How did the morbidly obese guy(Angus Barbieri) who fasted for one year not lose all of his lean body mass(muscles)? Does the body actually work to preserve muscle mass and not break it down when fasting as a morbidly obese person?

Question

Eli5 How did the morbidly obese guy(Angus Barbieri) who fasted for one year not lose all of his lean body mass(muscles)? Does the body actually work to preserve muscle mass and not break it down when fasting as a morbidly obese person?

In: 41

Answer 1

The body eats fat first. Muscle mass is typically converted to fat, then consumed by the body.

So long as you’re keeping active and supplementing yourself with the nutrients you need your body shouldn’t be going after your muscles until it absolutely has to.

It’s a survival mechanic because muscle powers us to escape predators, defend ourselves, and acquire food. Do we’ve evolved to burn up fat first in order to preserve muscle for other uses. Though there are circumstances that will make your body eat the muscles first.