Starvation Study: The Extreme Psychological and Behavioral Effects of Malnourishment
Welcome to another episode of the Understanding Disordered Eating podcast. In this episode, we will be diving deeper into the Minnesota Starvation Experiment or the Minnesota Semi Starvation Experiment. This starvation study was conducted by Ancel Keys, who was a professor of Physiology at the University of Minnesota. During World War II, he was a consultant to the War Department, and wanted to study the effects of starvation most significantly for those who were in the war, and how to provide post-war rehabilitation.
Though this study is being cited all the time, it is important to note that it only had a total of 32 participants. And while it has a very small sample size, the information that we learn from the starvation study is still significant and important.
Listen to the Episode Now
Show Notes
[00:01 - 2:17] Opening Segment: Starvation Study
I introduce our topic for this episode
Let’s talk about the Minnesota Starvation Experiment
[02:18 - 14:33] The Minnesota Starvation Experiment
The stages of the experiment
Initial stage - 3 months
Semi starvation period - 6 months
Rehabilitation period - 3 months
Participates talked about their experience
Effects of the semi starvation period
Physical change
Psychological change
Social changes
Behaviors related to food
Re-feeding period
[14:34 - 19:38] Implications of the Study
A lot of this sounds familiar for those with disordered eating
Re-feeding process must be done really carefully
Biological pressure to look for food
Final words
Tweetable Quotes
“By learning about the effects of starvation, we can avoid attributing all of these symptoms to some other causes that aren't connected to just a significant calorie deficit.” - Rachelle Heinemann
More From Rachelle
Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
I believe in the power of deep work and its positive impact on your life in the long term. Learn more about how we can work together here.
You can connect with me on Instagram, through my website or email me directly clicking the links below.
Subscribe & Leave A Review!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can show your support by leaving a review, subscribing, or sharing with someone who may need help. Click here to open this show in iTunes and leave a five star rating and review.
More Episodes
