CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION PRODUCED BY PROLONGED TOTAL STARVATION AND REFEEDING

Seven grossly obese patients were fasted for periods ranging from 10 to 45 weeks. Weight losses of up to 66.5 Kg. were obtained. Half of the reduction in weight was due to loss of lean tissue as shown by measurements of intracellular water and exchangeable potassium, and in two of the patients the exchangeable potassium fell as low as 1400 mEq. During refeeding the lean tissue mass increased rapidly in all of the patients, although five of them continued to lose fat. © 1969.