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Energy intake during a typical Himalayan trek.

Geneviève C Major1, Eric Doucet

  • 1Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.

High Altitude Medicine & Biology
|September 30, 2004
PubMed
Summary

High altitude trekking led to reduced energy intake and body weight loss in westerners. Energy intake increased upon descent, with no link found between diet and acute mountain sickness symptoms.

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Area of Science:

  • Human physiology
  • Altitude medicine
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • Commercial treks expose individuals to high altitude (HA) and ad libitum eating.
  • This situation is linked to reduced food consumption and body weight loss.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for trekkers' health and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phenomenon of under-eating and body weight loss in westerners during a Himalayan trek.
  • To assess changes in energy intake, diet composition, and acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms at different altitudes.

Main Methods:

  • Seven healthy individuals trekked for 19 days to Makalu Base Camp.
  • Body weight, energy intake (EI), and macronutrient composition were measured.
  • Data were compared across low altitude (LA1), high altitude (HA), and low altitude (LA2) periods.

Main Results:

  • Body weight significantly decreased by the trek's end (p < 0.01).
  • Total EI decreased significantly at HA (p < 0.05) and increased upon return to LA2 (p < 0.001).
  • No association was found between EI, diet, and AMS presence.

Conclusions:

  • High altitude exposure during trekking leads to a decrease in energy intake.
  • This reduction in EI at HA is not specific to any particular macronutrient.
  • The findings highlight the impact of altitude on nutritional status during expeditions.

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