In an age in which diet trends come and change faster than you could use the word “keto”, one man from Scotland in a quiet way — and amazinglyrecorded a time record that’s still unbeaten nearly 60 years after.
The name he used was Angus Barbieri. For 382 consecutive days, the average man from Tayport was without food.
Do not cheat on days. No breaks. No fruit, no snacks, no meals. There’s just tea, black coffee, vitamin water in soda,and a degree of determination that continues to be a mystery to people.
In an age where diet trends appear and move faster than you can pronounce “keto”, one man from Scotland silently and amazinglyestablished a record still unbeaten nearly 60 years more.
The name he used was Angus Barbieri. For 382 consecutive days, the average man from Tayport was deprived of food.
Do not cheat on days. No breaks. No fruit, no snacks, no meals. There’s just black tea, coffee vitamin water in soda,and a level of determination that continues to make people confused.
From Fryer to Fasting: Angus Before the Diet
born in 1939 Angus was a typical kid in his father’s fish and chip shop in Scotland. At 27 his weight increased to a staggering 456 lbs as according to the Daily Mail reports.
Determined to take control over his condition, he visited the Royal Infirmary of Dundee in June 1965. His plan to do a quick speedy exercise to lose some weight.
The next few days were nothing short.
The 382-Day Fast Begins
Doctors had originally planned for Angus to fast only for some days — however, he was not interested in small-scale measures. Under continuous surveillance by a doctor, he resigned to a plan of long-term fasting that defied all diets and scientific theory at the time.
For more than one year, his food was, according to the Courier :
- Coffee and tea (sometimes with tiny amounts of sugar or milk)
- Soda water
- Vitamins
- Yeast for essential amino acids
- Electrolytes
That’s it. Zero food items that are solid. Zero calories from meals.
Despite having to work around the chip store, Angus was forced to make the hard decision to leave the shop to stay clear of temptation. He was allowed to visit and go to Maryfield Hospital, with doctors watching him at every visit.
Shedding the Weight
Barbieri’s transformation was astonishing. Barbieri lost an average of about a pound every day, which is about 22 pounds a month. His aim was to lose up to 180 pounds. on the 11th of July in 1966, just 382 days following his start the program, he hit that goal. At the end of his sprint, Angus had dropped a staggering 276 pounds. He disappeared and was be infamously said to squeeze two people into his pants from the past.
His first taste of food in over an entire year?
A boil egg. Butter and bread.
It was a good experience. I’m a bit hungry, yet I really enjoyed it, he said to the reporters who waited to see his first post-fast dinner.
The story spread across the globe and made headlines throughout both the US as well as Europe alike. Researchers from the University of Dundee launched a thorough study of the effects of long-term fasting and his research was revealed by The Postgraduate Medical Journal in 1973.
Extended starvation treatment should be used with caution The study cautioned in acknowledging the uniquenessand risk of Angus’s case, as per the definition of History.
The Science, the Skeptics, and the Shock
As the weight dipped and the weight dropped, questions began to rise. Many asked the same question back then, and still do the question: how can human beings go for more than a whole year without food, and not be able to survive?
There was some doubt about the achievement particularly after the release of records that found five deaths related to fasting for a long time. Some critics feared for Angus his health, while some believed he was doing a sham. However, his doctors confirmed that Angus adhered to the program and, amazingly no adverse effects were discovered.
The doctors determined that despite the extreme nature of the fast Angus was physically and mentally healthy. After five years since the fast had ended his weight was reportedly kept at an ideal body weight, which was 14 stones (196 pounds) ).
A Record That May Never Be Broken
The year was 1971 and Angus’s accomplishment earned his a place within the Guinness Book of Records for the longest time without eating solid food. The only one who was close to it to achieving this feat was Dennis Galer Goodwin, who spent 385 days eating nothing and was forced fed, which disqualified him from claiming the crown.
In the present, Guinness no longer tracks or endorses fasting records due the risks that are obvious. A spokesperson said: Due to its specialized nature the record’s title isn’t usually available for application. We could delay confirmation or deny submissions completely to prevent promoting harmful methods.
The Man, the Myth, the Legacy
Angus Barbieri lived quietly following his historic fast, raising two sons before eventually making the move from Warwick to Warwick.
He passed away in the month of September, 1990, at 51 and left an impressive legacy that draws the attention of dieticians, researchers and everyone who has ever stood on an odometer.
His story isn’t merely about losing weight. It’s about determination, survival and the incredible capacity that the body as well as spirit. It’s not a matter of if it’s a marvel or a medical anomaly it’s a fact that’s undisputed: Angus Barbieri didn’t just create a world record. He redefined the boundaries of what’s possible for humans.