Hello monkey617,
Based on my research, I would say that an overweight person would be
able to survive longer, assuming both had similar survival skills.
Water loss or dehydration would be the most critical and worrying
aspect in desert survival.
Here are two sources supporting this:
"You plunk a bunch of overweight people down in a semi-desert
(assuming they have basic survival skills), they have a better chance
of surviving than slim people. But the same slim people have a better
chance of surviving in a forest or mountainous region (where the extra
weight works against the overweight people)."
Subject: Evolution
Source: http://www.nocturne.org/world/archive/download/evolutn.txt
"At the point you've lost fluid amounting to five percent of your body
weight, you'll get sick--miserably sick. Nausea will destroy your
desire to drink. You'll vomit and lose more fluid. Further symptoms
include, dizzy, severe headache, short of breath, thick speech, and
eventually you won't be able to walk." (This leads to the conclusion
that an overweight person having a greater weight, would have to lose
more fluid to be dehydrated.)
Outdoor Survival
http://www.dicksutphen.com/html/outdoor_survival.html
I hope this answer is satisfactory to your requirements. Please let me
know if you need any clarifications regarding this answer.
tisme-ga
Search Strategy:
"body weight" desert survival human
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desert survival overweight OR fat skinny OR slim
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