Final answer:
In prolonged starvation, adults can lose up to 30% of their body weight. Significant weight loss from starvation can lead to dire health consequences, including death once the loss reaches 40%. The body undergoes metabolic changes to maintain vital functions, and obesity is a growing global health concern.
Step-by-step explanation:
In prolonged starvation, adults can lose up to 30% of their normal body weight. Once starvation leads to a weight loss of about 40%, death is almost inevitable. During starvation, the body undergoes metabolic changes, such as depletion of liver glycogen and increased breakdown of body tissues, including fat (adipose tissue) and muscle mass, to maintain vital functions.
The body does not function uniformly across all levels of fuel depletion, meaning that the analogy of a body to a car with a gas tank is flawed. Undernutrition and obesity both represent significant global health concerns, with obesity rates rising worldwide. Eventually, starvation leads to severe health consequences, including cardiac arrhythmia or arrest, due to depleted body functions and electrolyte imbalances.