Sonam Wangchuk loses 8.2 kg on hunger strike: What toll does intense fasting take on a body?

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 16th day, and the latest health bulletin released on Monday (July 13) said that Wangchuk has "lost 8.25 kg."

Protesters also said: "Wangchuk has lost 8.25 kg, his blood sugar levels have repeatedly fallen below 70 mg/dL (normal fasting levels are around 100 mg/dL), and he is experiencing constant dizziness, severe muscle loss and visible weakness, with his rib cage now clearly visible."

Reports also suggest that his blood sugar has dropped significantly, raising concerns about his health and underscoring the physiological toll of long fasting on the human body.

The toll of prolonged hunger strike on the body

During the first 24 hours without food, the body relies primarily on blood glucose and glycogen stores in the liver and muscles for energy.

More from Health

Who is Sonam Wangchuk, the activist at the centre of the Ladakh violence?

Slowly, the blood glucose starts to fall, and insulin decreases, while glucagon levels increase. To maintain normal blood sugar levels, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose.

"Water and sodium are lost rapidly during this phase, leading to an early drop in body weight. Hunger is usually at its peak, and many people experience headache, fatigue, irritability and increased thirst," Dr Amit Prakash Singh, Consultant – Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, explained, reported India Today.  

Doctors explain how the human body shifts from burning sugar to fat and why the health risks rise sharply after two weeks. Representational Image/AP

Once liver glycogen becomes largely depleted, the body undergoes a major metabolic shift. During this stage, fat breakdown (lipolysis) increases significantly. Ketone production rises.

Some muscle protein is broken down to produce glucose for tissues that cannot use ketones, such as red blood cells. Rapid weight loss during these days is common.

As liver glycogen stores become depleted, the body shifts its metabolism toward fat utilisation.

Lipolysis accelerates significantly, increasing ketone production, while some muscle protein is broken down to supply glucose to tissues that depend on it, including red blood cells.

During this period, rapid weight loss often occurs. "Muscle protein is temporarily broken down to supply amino acids, causing weakness, dizziness, reduced exercise capacity and the characteristic fruity odour of ketones on the breath," Dr Singh said.

The risk of medical complications

As fasting continues, the body increasingly conserves its remaining energy reserves. However, after days without enough nutrition, prolonged fasting poses significantly greater health risks.

Potential complications include:

>>Gradual loss of muscle mass.

>>Electrolyte imbalances

>>Low blood sugar

>>Dehydration

>>Low blood pressure

>>Heart rhythms, usually not normal

>>Feeling dizzy due to reduced blood flow to the brain

"After nearly two weeks of fasting, prolonged starvation begins to affect multiple organs," the report quoted him as saying.

Adding, "Muscle wasting becomes more pronounced, including loss of heart and respiratory muscle. Dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, low blood pressure, kidney injury, infections and potentially life-threatening cardiac rhythm abnormalities are becoming increasingly likely."

"Hunger strikes are often a measure of last resort by people who believe their rights to protest and effective remedy have been exhausted," said United Nations (UN) experts, Al Jazeera reported.

As fasting extends beyond days or weeks, the risk of complications increases significantly.

With inputs from agencies