Sonam Wangchuk lost 8.2 kg in 18 days: What prolonged fasting does to the body
As the Ladakh activist's health raises concern, doctors explain how the body survives without food, and why rapid weight loss can become dangerous.
Environmental activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kg in just 18 days of his ongoing hunger strike, sparking concerns over the toll prolonged fasting can take on the human body.
According to reports, Wangchuk has been consuming only water during the protest. While the body is designed to adapt to short periods without food, doctors say fasting for weeks forces it into survival mode, where it gradually begins consuming its own energy reserves, and eventually its muscles.
"Losing 8 kg in just 18 days is a significant and medically concerning weight loss," said Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, an internal medicine specialist.
"The concern is not merely the number on the weighing scale, but what that weight loss represents. During prolonged starvation, the body first uses glucose circulating in the blood, followed by glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Once these energy reserves are depleted, it starts burning fat. As starvation continues, the body is forced to break down its own muscle proteins to meet its energy needs," he explained.
"At this stage, the weight being lost is no longer just fat but also valuable muscle mass. This indicates that the body is under severe metabolic stress, and prolonged muscle loss can weaken overall physical function and affect vital physiological processes. Such rapid weight loss is not normal and requires close medical monitoring," Dr. Chatterjee added.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP EATING?
The body relies on a steady supply of carbohydrates from food to fuel the brain and muscles. Once food intake stops, it begins using glucose already present in the bloodstream.
Within about 24 hours, these glucose stores are exhausted. The body then turns to glycogen, a stored form of carbohydrate found in the liver and muscles. Glycogen can sustain energy needs only for a day or two.
After that, metabolism shifts to fat stores. The liver converts fat into ketones, which become an alternative fuel for the brain and other organs. This stage helps the body survive longer without food.
However, fat alone cannot meet all of the body's energy requirements.
As fasting continues, proteins from skeletal muscles are broken down into amino acids to support essential organs and produce glucose. This results in the loss of lean muscle mass, reduced strength and increasing weakness.
WHY RAPID WEIGHT LOSS CAN BE RISKY
Although a large drop on the weighing scale may seem dramatic, doctors say much of the early weight loss during prolonged fasting comes from water and glycogen depletion. As the fast continues, fat and muscle are both lost.
Rapid muscle loss can weaken the immune system, reduce mobility and slow recovery. It can also affect the heart, which is itself a muscle.
Prolonged fasting may also cause dehydration, low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, dizziness, fatigue and low blood sugar.
In severe cases, these changes can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythms, organ dysfunction and loss of consciousness.
Medical supervision is essential during extended hunger strikes because complications can develop even if a person continues to drink water.
THE CHALLENGE AFTER THE FAST
Doctors caution that the danger does not end when a prolonged fast is over.
After days or weeks without food, suddenly eating a normal meal can trigger refeeding syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body's rapid shift back to processing carbohydrates causes dangerous changes in electrolytes, particularly phosphate, potassium and magnesium.
For this reason, nutrition must be restarted gradually under medical supervision after prolonged starvation.
While short-term fasting is generally well tolerated in healthy people, experts stress that water-only fasting for weeks is fundamentally different.
By the time a person loses several kilograms in less than three weeks, the body has likely progressed well beyond burning fat and has begun sacrificing muscle to keep vital organs functioning, a sign that shows it is under considerable metabolic stress.
Environmental activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kg in just 18 days of his ongoing hunger strike, sparking concerns over the toll prolonged fasting can take on the human body.
According to reports, Wangchuk has been consuming only water during the protest. While the body is designed to adapt to short periods without food, doctors say fasting for weeks forces it into survival mode, where it gradually begins consuming its own energy reserves, and eventually its muscles.
"Losing 8 kg in just 18 days is a significant and medically concerning weight loss," said Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, an internal medicine specialist.
"The concern is not merely the number on the weighing scale, but what that weight loss represents. During prolonged starvation, the body first uses glucose circulating in the blood, followed by glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Once these energy reserves are depleted, it starts burning fat. As starvation continues, the body is forced to break down its own muscle proteins to meet its energy needs," he explained.
"At this stage, the weight being lost is no longer just fat but also valuable muscle mass. This indicates that the body is under severe metabolic stress, and prolonged muscle loss can weaken overall physical function and affect vital physiological processes. Such rapid weight loss is not normal and requires close medical monitoring," Dr. Chatterjee added.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP EATING?
The body relies on a steady supply of carbohydrates from food to fuel the brain and muscles. Once food intake stops, it begins using glucose already present in the bloodstream.
Within about 24 hours, these glucose stores are exhausted. The body then turns to glycogen, a stored form of carbohydrate found in the liver and muscles. Glycogen can sustain energy needs only for a day or two.
After that, metabolism shifts to fat stores. The liver converts fat into ketones, which become an alternative fuel for the brain and other organs. This stage helps the body survive longer without food.
However, fat alone cannot meet all of the body's energy requirements.
As fasting continues, proteins from skeletal muscles are broken down into amino acids to support essential organs and produce glucose. This results in the loss of lean muscle mass, reduced strength and increasing weakness.
WHY RAPID WEIGHT LOSS CAN BE RISKY
Although a large drop on the weighing scale may seem dramatic, doctors say much of the early weight loss during prolonged fasting comes from water and glycogen depletion. As the fast continues, fat and muscle are both lost.
Rapid muscle loss can weaken the immune system, reduce mobility and slow recovery. It can also affect the heart, which is itself a muscle.
Prolonged fasting may also cause dehydration, low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, dizziness, fatigue and low blood sugar.
In severe cases, these changes can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythms, organ dysfunction and loss of consciousness.
Medical supervision is essential during extended hunger strikes because complications can develop even if a person continues to drink water.
THE CHALLENGE AFTER THE FAST
Doctors caution that the danger does not end when a prolonged fast is over.
After days or weeks without food, suddenly eating a normal meal can trigger refeeding syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body's rapid shift back to processing carbohydrates causes dangerous changes in electrolytes, particularly phosphate, potassium and magnesium.
For this reason, nutrition must be restarted gradually under medical supervision after prolonged starvation.
While short-term fasting is generally well tolerated in healthy people, experts stress that water-only fasting for weeks is fundamentally different.
By the time a person loses several kilograms in less than three weeks, the body has likely progressed well beyond burning fat and has begun sacrificing muscle to keep vital organs functioning, a sign that shows it is under considerable metabolic stress.
Environmental activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kg in just 18 days of his ongoing hunger strike, sparking concerns over the toll prolonged fasting can take on the human body.
According to reports, Wangchuk has been consuming only water during the protest. While the body is designed to adapt to short periods without food, doctors say fasting for weeks forces it into survival mode, where it gradually begins consuming its own energy reserves, and eventually its muscles.
"Losing 8 kg in just 18 days is a significant and medically concerning weight loss," said Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, an internal medicine specialist.
"The concern is not merely the number on the weighing scale, but what that weight loss represents. During prolonged starvation, the body first uses glucose circulating in the blood, followed by glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Once these energy reserves are depleted, it starts burning fat. As starvation continues, the body is forced to break down its own muscle proteins to meet its energy needs," he explained.
"At this stage, the weight being lost is no longer just fat but also valuable muscle mass. This indicates that the body is under severe metabolic stress, and prolonged muscle loss can weaken overall physical function and affect vital physiological processes. Such rapid weight loss is not normal and requires close medical monitoring," Dr. Chatterjee added.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP EATING?
The body relies on a steady supply of carbohydrates from food to fuel the brain and muscles. Once food intake stops, it begins using glucose already present in the bloodstream.
Within about 24 hours, these glucose stores are exhausted. The body then turns to glycogen, a stored form of carbohydrate found in the liver and muscles. Glycogen can sustain energy needs only for a day or two.
After that, metabolism shifts to fat stores. The liver converts fat into ketones, which become an alternative fuel for the brain and other organs. This stage helps the body survive longer without food.
However, fat alone cannot meet all of the body's energy requirements.
As fasting continues, proteins from skeletal muscles are broken down into amino acids to support essential organs and produce glucose. This results in the loss of lean muscle mass, reduced strength and increasing weakness.
WHY RAPID WEIGHT LOSS CAN BE RISKY
Although a large drop on the weighing scale may seem dramatic, doctors say much of the early weight loss during prolonged fasting comes from water and glycogen depletion. As the fast continues, fat and muscle are both lost.
Rapid muscle loss can weaken the immune system, reduce mobility and slow recovery. It can also affect the heart, which is itself a muscle.
Prolonged fasting may also cause dehydration, low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, dizziness, fatigue and low blood sugar.
In severe cases, these changes can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythms, organ dysfunction and loss of consciousness.
Medical supervision is essential during extended hunger strikes because complications can develop even if a person continues to drink water.
THE CHALLENGE AFTER THE FAST
Doctors caution that the danger does not end when a prolonged fast is over.
After days or weeks without food, suddenly eating a normal meal can trigger refeeding syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body's rapid shift back to processing carbohydrates causes dangerous changes in electrolytes, particularly phosphate, potassium and magnesium.
For this reason, nutrition must be restarted gradually under medical supervision after prolonged starvation.
While short-term fasting is generally well tolerated in healthy people, experts stress that water-only fasting for weeks is fundamentally different.
By the time a person loses several kilograms in less than three weeks, the body has likely progressed well beyond burning fat and has begun sacrificing muscle to keep vital organs functioning, a sign that shows it is under considerable metabolic stress.
