Does your body burn fat or muscle first when starving

When the body is in a state of starvation, it begins to break down stored energy sources to provide the body with the energy it needs to function. Initially, the body will break down its glycogen stores, which are stored carbohydrates in the liver and muscles. Once these glycogen stores are depleted, the body will start to break down stored fat and muscle tissue to provide energy.

However, the body will prioritize breaking down fat tissue over muscle tissue in order to preserve muscle mass. This is because muscle tissue is essential for movement and other bodily functions, and breaking it down would be detrimental to the body’s overall health and survival.

The body will only break down muscle tissue for energy as a last resort when it has depleted its fat stores and there are no other energy sources available. Therefore, while the body will break down both fat and muscle tissue during starvation, it will prioritize fat breakdown over muscle breakdown in order to preserve muscle mass and function.

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