Angus Barbieri (1939 – 7 September 1990) was a Scottish man who
fasted
Fasting is the abstention from eating and sometimes drinking. From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see "Breakfast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after com ...
for 382 days, from June 1965 to July 1966. He lived on tea, coffee, soda water, and vitamins while living at home in
Tayport
Tayport, also known as Ferry-Port on Craig, is a town and burgh, and parish, in the county of Fife, Scotland, acting as a commuter town for Dundee. The motto of the Burgh is ''Te oportet alte ferri'' ("It is incumbent on you to carry yoursel ...
, Scotland, and frequently visiting
Maryfield Hospital
Maryfield Hospital was a hospital in Stobswell, Dundee, Scotland. Originally a poorhouse hospital it became Dundee's second main hospital after Dundee Royal Infirmary. It closed in the 1970s following the opening of Ninewells Hospital.
History ...
for medical evaluation. He lost and set a record for the length of a fast.
The fast
In 1965, Barbieri, then a 27-year-old from
Tayport
Tayport, also known as Ferry-Port on Craig, is a town and burgh, and parish, in the county of Fife, Scotland, acting as a commuter town for Dundee. The motto of the Burgh is ''Te oportet alte ferri'' ("It is incumbent on you to carry yoursel ...
, Scotland, checked into the
Maryfield Hospital
Maryfield Hospital was a hospital in Stobswell, Dundee, Scotland. Originally a poorhouse hospital it became Dundee's second main hospital after Dundee Royal Infirmary. It closed in the 1970s following the opening of Ninewells Hospital.
History ...
in
Dundee. Initially only a short
fast
Fast or FAST may refer to:
* Fast (noun), high speed or velocity
* Fast (noun, verb), to practice fasting, abstaining from food and/or water for a certain period of time
Acronyms and coded Computing and software
* ''Faceted Application of Subje ...
was planned, due to the doctors believing that short fasts were preferable to longer ones. Barbieri did not believe them, insisting on continuing because "he adapted so well and was eager to reach his 'ideal' weight".
For 382 days (1 year, 17 days) ending on 11 July 1966, he consumed only vitamins,
electrolytes, an unspecified amount of
yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to consti ...
(a source of all essential amino acids) and zero-calorie beverages such as tea, coffee, and sparkling water, although he occasionally consumed small amounts of milk and/or sugar with the beverages, especially during the final weeks of the fast. He quit working at his father's fish and chip shop, which closed down during the fast. Barbieri's starting weight was recorded at and he stopped fasting when he reached his goal weight of . He lost weight at an average of per day, or per month.
Later life
After his weight loss, he moved to
Warwick
Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and W ...
and had two sons.
Barbieri died in September 1990.
Record
In the 1971 edition of ''
The Guinness Book of Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
'', Barbieri's 382-day fast was recognized as the longest recorded.
In 1973, Dennis Galer Goodwin went on a hunger strike for 385 days, but he was force-fed during this period. , Barbieri retains the record for the longest fast without solid food, according to Guinness officials. Guinness no longer officially endorses records relating to fasting for fear of encouraging unsafe behaviour.
See also
*
Management of obesity
Management of obesity can include lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery. Although many studies have sought effective interventions, there is currently no evidence-based, well-defined, and efficient intervention to prevent obesity.
The main ...
*
Electrolyte imbalance
Electrolyte imbalance, or water-electrolyte imbalance, is an abnormality in the concentration of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. They help to regulate heart and neurological function ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbieri, Angus
Fasting
20th-century Scottish people
1939 births
1990 deaths
Weight loss
Guinness World Records
Obesity