Final answer:
To lose 1 lb of body fat, a person weighing 170 lb who burns 0.40 cal/h per pound of body weight while sleeping would need to sleep continuously for approximately 51.47 hours. This calculation is based on the fact that one pound of body fat stores 3,500 cal of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how long they would have to sleep to lose 1 lb of body fat, assuming an average adult burns 0.40 cal/h per pound of body weight while sleeping. Since a pound of body fat stores about 3,500 cal, and the person weighs 170 lb, we can calculate the time required to lose that amount of fat through sleep.
First, we calculate the total calories burned per hour while sleeping: 0.40 cal/h × 170 lb = 68 cal/h. Next, we divide the total amount of calories in a pound of body fat by the calories burned per hour: 3,500 cal ÷ 68 cal/h = approximately 51.47 hours.
Therefore, to lose 1 lb of body fat, a 170 lb person would need to sleep for about 51.47 hours continuously, which is not possible in a regular sleep cycle. It's important to remember that this is a simplified scenario and actual weight loss can also be influenced by factors like diet and overall metabolism.