Knowledge | Posted by Shwe Zin Win
Doctors have estimated that a normal well-nourished person can last about 30 days off a diet of sugar and water, however the case of the longest survival without food was quite a lot longer than that.
Ask Angus Barbieri, a fascinating man from Scotland who, over six decades ago, captured the world's attention when he embarked on a 382-day fasting journey to lose weight.
In June of 1965, Barbieri - who was morbidly obese - decided to attempt to overcome his food addiction and lose weight, according to History Defined.
(At 27 years old, Barbieri's problems with weight became evidently apparent, as he weighed 456 pounds while working at his father's fish-and-chips shop in Scotland -Photo: AP)
He was born in Tayport, Scotland in 1939 and appeared to have lived a normal life with little mishaps.
As a young adult, before he began fasting, Barbieri was steadily working at his father's fish-and-chips shop.
But by 27 years old, Barbieri's problems with weight became evidently apparent, as he weighed 456 pounds.
In June 1965, he voluntarily admitted himself to the Royal Infirmary of Dundee in Scotland to undergo a short fast in a bid to lose weight.
It was during that time that Barbieri would then continue to fast his way to health for an extraordinary 382 days.
Barbieri's fast
The consumption of solid food was not permitted during Barbieri's specific fasting plan.
He was only allowed to ingest electrolytes, vitamins, some yeast for important amino acids, and finally, particular liquids such as black coffee, tea, and sparkling water.
Barbieri's calorie intake remained close to zero for the entire duration of the prolonged fast - essentially a 'starvation diet' intertwined with intermittent fasting.
During his fast, Barbieri was losing weight rapidly - shedding almost a pound a day on average. Every month, he was losing around 22 pounds.
Months on, Barbieri remained committed to the fast and the digits on the scale continued to decrease.
(After extraordinary 382 days of fasting with a diet of only liquid, yeast and vitamins, on July 11th in 1966, Barbieri finally reached his target weight of 180 pounds -Photo: AP)
Barbieri ended his fast that July morning with some bread and butter and a plain boiled egg.
Remarkably, he was reportedly able to fit two people alongside him in his old pair of trousers.
His story quickly became a global conversation, with newspapers as far away as the United States reporting on his incredible journey.
( Barbieri's weight transformation made him unrecognisable - remarkably, he was reportedly able to fit two people alongside him in his old pair of trousers (Photo: AP)
Ref: Man who didn't eat for 382 days didn’t use the toilet for nearly 2 months (dailymail, unilad)
Photo Credit: AP
