The lowest weight before death varies, because each individual has a different height and body composition. Body mass index, or BMI, is a way to estimate whether an individual is underweight. A BMI below 16 is associated with an increased risk of death, warns the World Health Organization.
The specific amount of weight you can lose before your body starts to shut down varies, because every individual is different. A body mass index below 18.5 indicates that an individual is underweight. When the BMI is below 16, health risks, including the risk of death, increase.
Body mass index
Body mass index is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. You can also calculate BMI by dividing your weight in pounds by your height in square inches and multiplying that value by 703. Although this measurement does not directly measure body fat or muscle mass, it has been shown to have a strong correlation with body fat measurements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The BMI value represents your general body condition. The BMI chart for men and women over 20 is as follows:
- BMI 30 or more: obesity
- BMI
25 to 29.9: Overweight
18.5 to 24.9: Normal weight
Below 18.5: underweight
Although a higher BMI generally indicates a higher body fat percentage, individuals with the same BMI may have different body fat levels. In general, women have more body fat than men, and older people have more body fat than younger people.
In the United States, most health organizations focus on the consequences of being overweight and having a high BMI. However, being underweight can also lead to health problems and, in severe cases, cause the body to shut down completely.
Learn more: Health Risks of Low BMI
The World Health Organization notes that a BMI below 17 is considered moderate to severe thinness and is linked to increased rates of disease. When this number drops below 16, weight loss is extreme and health risks increase significantly. At this level, individuals become lethargic, have poor physical performance and risk death.
Causes of weight loss
Significant weight loss has many possible causes. Anorexia nervosa is a mental condition known to cause extreme weight loss. This eating disorder is more common among female adolescents and early adults, according to Ohio State University.
People with this disorder severely limit their food intake to avoid gaining weight. Some common anorexic thought patterns include an extreme fear of gaining weight and thinking that the individual is overweight when they are not.
In addition to weight loss, other symptoms of anorexia include:
- Obsession with exercise and counting calories
- Hiding food to avoid eating
- Be discreet about your diet
- Hair loss
- Pale or gray complexion
- Loss of menstrual cycle
- Low blood pressure
- To be cold
- Insomnia
- Mood swings and low self-esteem
Other conditions and circumstances can also lead to weight loss, including poor diet and lack of available food. Certain medical conditions can affect the body’s ability to properly absorb nutrients from food, leading to weight loss.
Some of these conditions include:
- Celiac disease
- Whipple’s disease
- Short bowel syndrome
- Lactose intolerance
Some medications can also prevent nutrient absorption.
Warning
If you experience symptoms of anorexia or unexplained weight loss, contact your doctor immediately, as this may be a sign of a serious health problem.
Stages of anorexia before death
As weight loss progresses and reaches a critical level, several body systems begin to shut down. According to Dr. Jane Mitchell Rees of the University of Washington, some signs of anorexia include fainting, bluish discoloration of the fingertips and ears, irregular heartbeat, yellow skin, and an inability to regulate body temperature.
Learn more: Signs and Symptoms of Starvation Mode
Other complications of anorexia can affect almost every system in the body, as noted in a March 2015 review in the Journal of Eating Disorders . Potential cardiovascular symptoms include mitral valve prolapse, abnormally slow heart rate, and low blood pressure. Potential metabolic complications include thyroid abnormalities, hypoglycemia, irregular or missed periods, infertility, and neurogenic diabetes insipidus.
Potential dermatologic complications include dry skin, scaly hair, alopecia, and severe itching. As anorexia progresses, individuals may be more prone to skin cracking and bleeding. Gastrointestinal complications include constipation and hepatitis. Individuals may also experience bone loss and brain tissue loss, or brain atrophy.
Warning
Amenoria, or loss of menstruation in a woman, is a warning sign that you have lost a dangerous amount of weight.
Men suffering from eating disorders do not show comparable warning signs. Typically, men have a lower body fat percentage, so dangerous complications can arise with much less weight loss, notes the Journal of Eating Disorders .
Symptoms get worse as the body begins to shut down. In the final stages of starvation before death, symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fluid and electrolyte imbalance causing both edema and dehydration, and severe cardiac arrhythmia.
Treating Starvation and Anorexia
In cases where a person is severely underweight and malnourished, hospitalization is necessary to stabilize the patient. Medical monitoring and nutritional advice may be necessary as the food is reintroduced into one’s diet.
During treatment, underweight individuals are at risk of developing refeeding syndrome, which leads to electrolyte imbalances and deficiencies, and associated complications, including arrhythmias, muscle weakness, respiratory failure, coma, and death. There is no standard treatment for refeeding syndrome, but options may include slowly increasing calorie intake and careful monitoring of electrolytes.
If the person cannot or will not eat the recommended food, doctors may prescribe a liquid formula to provide the necessary nutrition. In extreme cases, a feeding tube may be used.
Doctors will also want to treat the underlying cause of extreme weight loss. In the case of anorexia, this includes mental health care to treat the eating disorder. Treatment options include psychotherapy and antidepressants. This is essential to an individual’s recovery because they fear gaining weight but must do so to survive.
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