Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Nutrition and high altitude exposure.

B Kayser1

  • 1Dept. de Physiologie, CMU, Genève, Switzerland.

International Journal of Sports Medicine
|October 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Altitude exposure causes significant weight loss, primarily through initial water loss, followed by fat and muscle reduction. Maintaining adequate nutrition and comfort can mitigate these effects at moderate altitudes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Commentaries on Viewpoint: Inappropriate interpretation of surface EMG signals and muscle fiber characteristics impedes understanding of the control of neuromuscular function.

Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)·2015
Same author

Wide-pulse-high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation in cerebral palsy.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2015
Same author

In search for better pharmacological prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness: looking in other directions.

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2015
Same author

Hypoxia, energy balance and obesity: from pathophysiological mechanisms to new treatment strategies.

Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·2013
Same author

[What's new in gynecology and obstetrics].

Revue medicale suisse·2012
Same author

Maternal heart rate changes during labour.

European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology·2011

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Environmental Medicine

Background:

  • Altitude exposure is associated with significant weight loss.
  • Several hypotheses attempt to explain this phenomenon, involving appetite, energy balance, and hydration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss the various hypotheses explaining weight loss at altitude.
  • To synthesize current understanding of the contributing factors to altitude-induced weight loss.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating weight changes during altitude exposure.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms including food intake, energy expenditure, hydration, nutrient absorption, and muscle mass.

Main Results:

  • Weight loss at altitude is multifactorial, involving decreased food intake, increased energy expenditure, and altered body water and nutrient metabolism.
  • Hypoxia, changes in environment, and reduced comfort contribute to appetite suppression.
  • Both fat mass and muscle mass are lost, with muscle wasting potentially linked to hypoxia and reduced physical activity.

Conclusions:

  • Altitude weight loss is an initial loss of water, followed by fat and muscle loss.
  • Weight loss is largely preventable at altitudes up to 5000m with adequate nutrition and comfort.
  • At higher altitudes, unavoidable weight loss occurs due to anorexia, discomfort, and potential direct effects of hypoxia on metabolism.

Related Experiment Videos