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American soldiers who liberated the Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II were so moved by the inmates' emaciation that they offered them candy bars and other rich food. In spite of the inmates' extreme starvation, why did these have to be taken away from them?

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Final answer:

US soldiers had to take rich food away from emaciated camp survivors as it could cause refeeding syndrome. They provided medical care and suitable nutrition for recovery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The American soldiers who liberated the Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II witnessed the severe emaciation of the camp inmates. Despite the natural instinct to feed the starving survivors with readily available food like candy bars, these had to be taken away because the survivors' bodies were not equipped to handle rich, heavy foods after prolonged starvation. Sudden refeeding could lead to refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition caused by rapid refeeding after starvation, as the body may react adversely to a sudden influx of nutrients.

When the Allied forces liberated camps, they had to provide medical care alongside food that was suitable for the malnourished state of the survivors. The provision of care was a meticulous process to ensure that the survivors could recover without additional harm.