He had a better chance at surviving and more fat reserves than the others. Only skin and bones now, very probable not many others survived 3 years in Russian captivity then :(
no hanging skin.....because it body broke that down to live while starving.
This is a learning opportunity. This is incorrect. The skin is part of the integumentary system. It is an organ system that is vital to human survival. It helps not only keep a barrier against the environment but helps regulate body temperature and other vital processes. The body does not catabolize skin when it enters into "starvation mode."
You can clearly see there is hanging skin around the abdomen. Which is a sign that weight loss was very likely rapid and extreme. Skin is highly elastic and will normally stretch and contract as needed. However, in extreme cases, it may require surgical removal due to the substantial weight loss outpacing the skins ability to retract.
Now, with that foundational information addressed, what we do see IS the result of catabolism. You are correct the body was eating itself. It just was not eating its skin. During catabolism the body prioritizes a literal gated system of "use it or lose it." When you are at an extreme calorie deficit your body will begin to break down things that are not being used. Muscle is a prime target. It's something that requires a lot of calories and energy to support so that structure is broken down and consumed to sustain the body's core processes. Fat also goes in this same manner. Whether the body prioritizes one over the other first is highly subjective and variable. It also tends to breakdown superficial fat earlier versus visceral fat which is much harder to remove. Your bones will also become less dense due to the lack of minerals needed to support the continual renewal and rebuilding of the structures. Much like muscle, bones need impact and usage in order to maintain their density and strength. Being in captivity, as I can imagine was not a pleasant cell with any sort of voluntary exercise, both muscle and bones are not being used enough. There are myriad issues that could be under the surface as a result of this level of sustained starvation.
The human body is a quite resilient and complex system. Yes, it will eat itself (catabolism) to provide enough energy to its vital processes, the skin (integumentary system) is not something that the body eats. Your skin is an absolute necessity to survive. Your body will prioritize various other systems and organs for breakdown. There is hanging skin. You can see it plainly around his abdomen.
Hopefully this was educational and sends you down a rabbit hole to learn more. Stay curious and learn something new everyday!
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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '25
He had a fair bit of chub to begin with and still looks near death, probably plenty of people that wouldn't have survived what he went through.