Editing Inedia (section)

==Scientific assessment==
Documented studies on the physiological effects of food restriction clearly show that [[fasting]] for extended periods leads to [[starvation]], [[dehydration]], and eventual death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Johnstone |first=A. M. |date=2007 |title=Fasting – the ultimate diet? |journal=Obesity Reviews |language=en |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=211–222 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00266.x |issn=1467-789X |pmid=17444963 |doi-access= |s2cid=675246}}</ref> In the absence of food intake, the body normally burns its own reserves of [[glycogen]], body fat, and muscle. Breatharians claim that their bodies do not consume these reserves while fasting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Katie |title=Can humans survive on air alone? |url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/breatharian1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226084504/http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/breatharian1.htm |archive-date=26 February 2013 |access-date=30 July 2009 |publisher=HowStuffWorks, Inc.}}</ref>

Some breatharians have submitted themselves to medical testing, including a hospital's observation of Indian mystic [[Prahlad Jani]] appearing to survive without food or water for 15 days. However, the hospital Jani attended has not published official documentation about the event.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 May 2010 |title=Rationalists doubt claims made for 'Mataji' Prahalad Jani |work=DNA India |publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rationalists-doubt-claims-made-for-mataji-prahalad-jani_1383648 |url-status=live |access-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520060516/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rationalists-doubt-claims-made-for-mataji-prahalad-jani_1383648 |archive-date=20 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 April 2010 |title=Hermit Claims 70 Years Survival Without Food |work=WUSA 9 |url=http://www.wusa9.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=100671&catid=148 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505053322/http://www.wusa9.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=100671&catid=148 |archive-date=5 May 2010}}</ref> In other cases, people have attempted to survive on sunlight alone, only to abandon the effort after losing a large percentage of their body weight.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=17 June 2013 |title=Fasting woman to end attempt to 'live on light' |work=Seattle Times |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021211809_experimentendsxml.html |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618222438/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021211809_experimentendsxml.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a handful of documented cases, individuals attempting breatharian fasting have died.<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="SundayTimes" /><ref name="NYDailyNews1" /> Scientific societies such as the [[British Dietetic Association]] strongly disadvise the breatharian diet, qualifying it as "dangerous", and stating that "the basic fact is we all need food and liquid in our diet to live."<ref name="BDA2014">{{Cite web |date=22 March 2014 |title=Top 5 Worst Celebrity Diets to Avoid in 2014 |url=https://www.bda.uk.com/news/131125BadDiets.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322130340/https://www.bda.uk.com/news/131125BadDiets.html |archive-date=22 March 2014 |website=bda.uk.com}}</ref>