# Malnutrition
*Generic Hazard*
A creature needs an amount of food per day based on its size, as shown in the Food Needs per Day table. A creature that eats but consumes less than half the required food for a day must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution [saving throw](Mechanics/CLI/rules/variant-rules/saving-throw-xphb.md) or gain 1 [Exhaustion](Mechanics/CLI/rules/conditions.md#Exhaustion) level at the day's end. A creature that eats nothing for 5 days automatically gains 1 [Exhaustion](Mechanics/CLI/rules/conditions.md#Exhaustion) level at the end of the fifth day as well as an additional level at the end of each subsequent day without food.
[Exhaustion](Mechanics/CLI/rules/conditions.md#Exhaustion) caused by malnutrition can't be removed until the creature eats the full amount of food required for a day.
**Food Needs per Day**
| Size | Food |
|------|------|
| Tiny | 1/4 pound |
| Small | 1 pound |
| Medium | 1 pound |
| Large | 4 pounds |
| Huge | 16 pounds |
| Gargantuan | 64 pounds |
^food-needs-per-day
*Source: Player's Handbook (2024) p. 371*