Starvation response

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Starvation response is a series of adaptive biochemical and physiological changes that the body undergoes when there is not enough food intake to sustain its activities.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /stɑːˈveɪʃən rɪˈspɒns/

Etymology

The term "starvation" comes from the Old English steorfan, meaning "to die". The term "response" comes from the Old French respons, meaning "to answer".

Definition

Starvation response, also known as starvation mode, is a survival mechanism that the body initiates in response to prolonged periods of insufficient food intake. It involves a series of metabolic changes aimed at preserving the body's energy and vital functions.

Process

When the body enters starvation mode, it switches its primary energy source from glucose to fat. This process, known as ketosis, results in the production of ketone bodies which can be used as an alternative energy source.

Simultaneously, the body reduces its basal metabolic rate (BMR) to conserve energy. This is accompanied by a decrease in thermogenesis, or heat production, and a reduction in physical activity levels.

Related Terms

  • Fasting: A voluntary abstinence from food for a certain period of time.
  • Malnutrition: A condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much.
  • Catabolism: The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, along with the release of energy.
  • Anorexia nervosa: An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, resulting in self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss.

See Also

External links

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