Refeeding syndrome

When you don't eat enough food for a long time, your body gets used to not having as much energy. But when you start eating again really fast, your body can't handle all the food at once. This can cause your body to have problems with how it uses energy, like with your heart, lungs, and muscles. This is called refeeding syndrome.

Think of your body like a car that needs gas to run. If you don't put gas in the car for a long time, it starts to slow down and use less energy. But if you suddenly put a lot of gas in the car, it might not work properly because it's not used to having so much energy all at once.

Refeeding syndrome can happen to people who have been starving or not eating enough for a long time, like people with an eating disorder, people who are in the hospital for a long time, or people who are stuck in a place without food.

Doctors and nurses know how to help people with refeeding syndrome by giving them food gradually and making sure they get the right nutrients. This helps their body adjust to having more energy without getting hurt.