Starved Minds and Shattered Bodies: The Untold Story of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment

Have you ever heard of people willingly starving for a scientific experiment? During World War II, food scarcity across Europe raised urgent humanitarian concerns. Millions faced famine conditions, many prisoners of war were in dire condition due to starvation. Policymakers needed evidence-based strategies to refeed survivors safely. To address this, the Minnesota Starvation Experiment was launched in 1944 by Dr. Ancel Keys, director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene at the University of Minnesota. ¹ The study became one of the most significant investigations into the physiological and psychological effects of starvation and refeeding till today.

Why the Experiment Was Conducted

At the time, medical knowledge about how to rehabilitate people after prolonged starvation was limited. It was understood that introducing normal food routine would be detrimental, but relief organizations needed clear guidance: How should starved individuals be fed to restore health without causing harm? Starvation alters metabolism, weakens organs, and increases vulnerability to infections. Introducing food too rapidly can trigger refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition marked by electrolyte imbalance. ⁵

Dr. Keys proposed a controlled experiment to study starvation’s impact and evaluate recovery protocols. Volunteers were drawn from conscientious objectors, men who declined combat service in the war but wished to contribute meaningfully for other services. One such participant recounts the complete details of the experiment.

Who Participated and Study Design

According to participant Jim Graham’s recollection, more than 100 men volunteered, with 36 ultimately selected after physical, mental and psychological tests to evaluate their fitness. They were young, healthy without any other chronic diseases and aged between 20 and 25.

The study lasted 48 weeks and had three phases:

1. Control period (12 weeks): Participants consumed a normal diet of about 3,200–3,500 calories daily, adjusted to individual needs initially for 12 weeks. They maintained an active lifestyle, pursued education and worked in laundry or other physical work.

2. Semi-starvation period (24 weeks): Caloric intake dropped to an average of 1,570 calories daily, based on typical wartime European diets. Meals consisted largely of bread, potatoes, turnips, and cabbage, with minimal meat or dairy, but they maintained the normal level of physical activities.

3. Rehabilitation period (12 weeks): Participants were divided into groups receiving varying caloric increases (400–1,600 extra calories daily). Some were also given protein or vitamin supplements and placebo to assess their role in recovery.

The Starvation Phase

During semi-starvation, the men were expected to maintain activity: walking 22 miles per week, completing laboratory work, and attending classes and doing various other physical work.

Physiological effects soon appeared. Participants lost about 25% of their body weight on average. Graham described his own transformation: hollow eyes, protruding bones, and severe muscle wasting. Many developed edema (fluid retention), particularly in the face and legs. They experienced fatigue, intolerance to cold, hair thinning, and reduced strength.

Psychological changes proved even more striking. While cognitive ability remained intact, the will to exert mental effort diminished. Food dominated thoughts. Men collected cookbooks, savored meals slowly, or binged when self-control broke. One participant went into an uncontrolled ice cream binge on their routine 22 miles allotted walk. According to Graham, irritability increased, most lost interest in women, social interactions declined, they didn't want to take visitors and depression became widespread. He mentions that they started getting upset for little things.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Refeeding began on 29th July 1945 after 24 weeks of semi starvation. Despite receiving up to 3,900 calories daily, weight gain was slow. Initial calorie increases were insufficient, and many lost further weight as edema subsided. Psychological distress persisted. Graham reported that even after the experiment, he remained obsessed with food, ate compulsively, and rapidly gained weight, rising from 122 pounds to 225 pounds within six months. Normal eating patterns took 3 years to return.

Dr. Keys’ initial conclusion was clear: starved adults require approximately 4,000 calories daily for effective rehabilitation, and calorie intake matters more than protein or vitamin supplementation alone (Keys et al., 1950).

Scientific Contributions

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment generated more than 1,300 pages of data, published in 1950 as The Biology of Human Starvation. Findings shaped international relief efforts post–World War II and remain foundational in medical and nutritional sciences.

Key contributions include:

• Understanding refeeding: Gradual increases in calories are essential to avoid complications.

• Psychological insights: Starvation induces depression, irritability, apathy, and compulsive behaviors, even in previously healthy individuals.

• Applications today: Research informs treatment of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, management of famine relief, and guidelines for addressing malnutrition and starvation in war hit areas or conflict zones.

Human Dimension

Jim Graham’s account underscores both the rigor of the experiment and its toll on volunteers. Participants lived under close medical supervision, but even then, many struggled with lingering effects long after the study ended. Graham reflected on the relative safety of their controlled setting compared to people in real famine situations, who faced infections, unsanitary conditions, and uncertainty about when starvation would end.

Conclusion

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment remains a landmark in medical history. It revealed not only the profound physical toll of starvation but also its psychological consequences, showing that even healthy, resilient individuals can break under prolonged deprivation. The lessons learned continue to inform humanitarian aid, clinical nutrition, and public health strategies.

References

1. American Psychological Association. “The Psychology of Hunger.” APA Monitor on Psychology, October 2013. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/10/hunger.

2. BBC News. “The Men Who Starved So That Millions Could Be Fed.” BBC News Magazine, January 20, 2014. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25782294.

3. Graham, Jim. The Minnesota Starvation Experiment: A First-Hand Account. YouTube video, 25:07. Posted by “University of Minnesota,” August 16, 2021. https://youtu.be/hcjdPE1nDQg?si=iNq_XBqdn6hpOzNd.

4. Sinnreich, Helene J. “The Physical, Mental, and Social Effects of Hunger.” In The Atrocity of Hunger, 77-90. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009105293.005.

5. Cleveland Clinic. “Refeeding Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment & Risk Factors.” Last reviewed June 6, 2022. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23228-refeeding-syndrome.