Member Since: February 25, 2009
Answers: 131
Last Update: April 8, 2009
Visitors: 8069
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This question may sound stupid, but I'm really confused. How do anorexic atletes lose the bulkyness of their leg/arm muscle? I know the body eats away at fat when its starved, but how does the muscle break down? Thanks. (link)
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I have seen athletic anorexic girls with 'muscle tone' - but it is only a matter of time before that muscle tone is gone too.
When the body needs energy it looks for the easiest source first. Initially, it uses the fuel you supply when eating/drinking: First to be broken down and used is carbohydrates/glucose stores.
When that runs out your body turns to your fat stores, or lipids. Remember there is some fat stored in muscles. So if the body starts looking for more fat, and uses the fat in the muscle, the muscle will 'shrink' or lose some tone.
When the fat stores are gone, then the body turns to proteins which are found in muscles. When the body breaks down the protein out of the muscle, it is breaking down the muscle.
Your heart is a muscle.
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Rating: 5
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thank you so much for the detailed explanation :)
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