Angus Barbieri was a Scottish man who is known for fasting for 382 days; from June 14, 1965 to July 11, 1966.
He was 27 years old and weighed 207 Kgs (32.5 stone) when he checked into the University Department of Medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Dundee, reportedly sick of being obese.
Initially, only a short fast was planned, but Barbieri insisted on continuing because he adapted so well and was eager to reach his ideal weight.
He lived off a diet of just tea, coffee, soda water, and vitamins while living at home in Tayport, Scotland, and frequently visiting Maryfield Hospital for medical evaluation.
As he got further into his fast, Barbieri started to introduce more into his diet to help with the lack of food.
He decided to drink more black tea, black coffee, and sparkling water, but these were all calorie-free.
For the last eight months of his fast, Barbieri’s blood glucose levels were consistently very low, around 2 mmol/l, but he did not suffer any adverse effects as a result.
He stopped fasting when he reached his goal weight of 180 pounds (82 Kgs).
Angus Barbieri cause of death
Barbieri died on September 7, 1990, at the age of 51.
According to his death certificate, the cause of death appeared to include stomach bleeding and obesity.
It is unclear whether his fasting had any direct impact on his death.
However, it is known that Angus had encountered clear signs of health problems before his fast, which could have ended his life sooner than expected.
What was Angus Barbieri’s motivation for fasting for so long?
Barbieri’s motivation for fasting for so long was to lose weight.
He was reportedly sick of being obese and checked into the University Department of Medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Dundee.
Initially, only a short fast was planned, but Barbieri insisted on continuing because he adapted so well and was eager to reach his ideal weight.
As he got further into his fast, he started to introduce more into his diet to help with the lack of food.
Barbieri decided to drink more black tea, black coffee, and sparkling water, but these were all calorie-free.
How did Angus Barbieri’s body change during his fast?
Barbieri’s body changed significantly during his fast.
He lost a total of 276 pounds (125 kg) and went from weighing 456 pounds (207 Kgs) to 180 pounds (82 Kgs).
His body adapted to the lack of food by burning its own fat stores for energy, which can be very dangerous once the fat runs out, as the body needs energy to properly function.
After his fast, doctors at the University of Dundee led a study on Barbieri to judge the effects of his fast. They found that his prolonged fast had resulted in “no ill-effects”.
What was the reaction of the medical community to Angus Barbieri’s fast?
The medical community had mixed reactions to Barbieri’s fast.
Some doctors were skeptical and concerned about the potential risks of such a prolonged fast, while others were intrigued by the possibility of using fasting as a therapeutic tool for obesity and other health conditions.
In fact, Barbieri’s fast was closely monitored by medical professionals at the University Department of Medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Dundee and the Maryfield Hospital, who published a study on his case in the Postgraduate Medical Journal in 1973.
The study concluded that his fast had been successful and had resulted in no ill-effects, although it acknowledged that more research was needed to fully understand the physiological and psychological effects of prolonged fasting.
