The postabsorptive state, or the fasting state, occurs when the food has been digested, absorbed, and stored. You commonly fast overnight, but skipping meals during the day puts your body in the postabsorptive state as well. During this state, the body must rely initially on stored glycogen.

What does post absorptive mean?

Medical Definition of postabsorptive

: being in or typical of the period following absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract subjects in the postabsorptive state.

When does post absorptive metabolic state occur?

The post-absorptive state occurs around three to five hours after a meal has been completely digested and absorbed.