Rooted in Resilience The Shocking Psychological Effects of Undereating (MSE Proof)
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Dec 4, 2025 Explore the chilling psychological effects of prolonged calorie deficits, as revealed by the Minnesota Starvation Experiment. Discover how under-eating leads to irritability, reduced sex drive, and strange eating behaviors. The discussion highlights low energy states and their impact on social life, humor, and motivation. Learn about the slow and challenging process of recovery from nutritional deprivation, emphasizing that mental endurance can decline while IQ remains intact. The conversation also critiques extreme dieting behaviors and the importance of adequate caloric intake for mental and physical well-being.
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Calorie Deficit Harms Mood And Motivation
- Prolonged calorie deficits cause clear behavioral and emotional declines even when intelligence is preserved.
- The Minnesota Starvation Experiment shows these effects reverse slowly as calories are restored.
Use Short, Strategic Fat-Loss Phases
- Use short, targeted fat-loss phases rather than prolonged deficits to limit metabolic and psychological damage.
- Restore metabolism between cuts so future deficits are smaller and easier to tolerate.
Recovery From Starvation Takes Months
- Many semi-starvation symptoms (hunger, tiredness) persist well into refeeding and improve slowly over months.
- The study found near-normal self-ratings only by week 33 of rehabilitation.