Delhi.Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Friday completed his 11th day of fasting, making his agitation in Delhi his second-longest fast ever. In 1996, he fasted for 14 days to demand the removal of two Maharashtra cabinet members. But, back in 1996, Hazare was only 59 years old; today he is 74.

A Pune-based doctor who attended to Hazare in 1996 said not much seems to have changed in the Gandhian's fitness, thanks to yoga and a balanced diet. Going by reports from Delhi, Hazare seems in the same health despite his advanced age. Any deterioration in his health is due to the natural effects of fasting. The main concern would be the rise in ketone bodies. In 1996, too, the ketone bodies level rose alarmingly, but Hazare's fast was called off when this became critical. Ketone bodies are an important source of energy for the brain during fasting, but very high levels can be detrimental to health.

"I saw media reports of Hazare's medical records during the current fast," the doctor told TOI. "I feel that the fluctuations in 1996, particularly for BP, sugar and ketone bodies, were similar. Even the weight loss was similar. In 1996, in the initial five to six days, the weight loss was faster than in later days."

Doctors were concerned in 1996 when Hazare's fast exceeded 10 days. "For 10 to 12 days his BP was normal, while fluctuations in sugar levels and the rise in ketone bodies caused concern. His condition was deteriorating, but following the intervention of leading politicians, Hazare called off his hunger strike," said the doctor.

The doctor, who did not wish to be named, added, "As a public health official, I examined Hazare several times. I found he experienced the natural effects of fasting. In my opinion, since Hazare has no serious medical history, he is fit and rarely needs medication." State public health officials said there has been no large-scale variation in Hazare's health parameters during fasts over the years. "If I remember correctly, in 1989, for almost a week his BP and sugar were near normal. But his weight loss was faster in the first five days," the Pune doctor said.

On the secret of Hazare's health, the Pune doctor said, "I've been told Hazare practises yoga two hours a day and his diet has been fixed for over four decades."

Friday marked the 11th day of Anna Hazare's fast in New Delhi, effectively making it his second-longest fast over the past two decades. The longest fast came in 1996, when he went on a hunger strike for 14 days to demand the removal of two Maharashtra cabinet members. However, at that time he was 59 years old. Today he is fasting at the age of 74. Hazare was born on June 15, 1937. Here are the details of his longer fasts:

DAYS: 9 START DATE | Nov 19, 1989 AGE | 52 & 5 months PLACE | Ralegan Siddhi ISSUE | Agrarian crisis & inadequate power supply (4 farmers were killed in police firing during the agitation) GOVT RESPONSE | Demands partially accepted

DAYS: 14 START DATE | Nov 20, 1996 AGE | 59 & 5 months PLACE | Ralegan Siddhi ISSUE | Demands removal of two state cabinet members, Shashikant Sutar and Mahadevrao Shivankar, for corruption GOVT RESPONSE | Both members dropped

DAYS: 9 START DATE | May 10, 1997 AGE | 59 & nearly 11 months PLACE | Ralegan Siddhi ISSUE | Demands probe into allegations made against a trust headed by himself GOVT RESPONSE | Demands partially accepted

DAYS: 8 START DATE | Aug 9, 2003 AGE | 66 & 1 month PLACE | Azad Maidan ISSUE | Demands action against former minister Suresh Jain GOVT RESPONSE | Demands partially accepted

DAYS: 9 START DATE | Feb 16, 2004 AGE | 66 & 8 months PLACE | Alandi (Pune) ISSUE | Demands Right to Information Act in Maharashtra GOVT RESPONSE | Demand accepted

DAYS: 9 START DATE | Aug 9, 2004 AGE | 67 & nearly 2 months PLACE | Ralegan Siddhi ISSUE | Demands central RTI law GOVT RESPONSE | Demand accepted

DAYS: 9 & Counting START DATE | Aug 16, 2011 AGE | 74 & 1 month PLACE | Tihar Jail & Ramlila Maidan (Delhi) ISSUE | Wants passage of Jan Lokpal Bill GOVT RESPONSE | Negotiations on