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Energy balance during backpacking.

L C Hill1, D P Swain, E L Hill

  • 1Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia 23504, United States. lchill@nsu.edu

International Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 18, 2008
PubMed
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Backpacking trips significantly increase energy expenditure, with hikers burning nearly 5000 kilocalories daily. Caloric intake was insufficient to maintain body mass, leading to expected weight loss due to a substantial energy deficit.

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Human Physiology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Backpacking involves significant physical exertion, impacting energy balance.
  • Quantifying energy expenditure and intake during multi-day treks is crucial for understanding physiological demands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure energy expenditure and intake in subjects undertaking a 160-kilometer backpacking trip.
  • To compare two methods for estimating energy expenditure: the Heart Rate Method and the Terrain Method.

Main Methods:

  • Subjects' heart rate and oxygen consumption were measured during treadmill walking with a backpack.
  • Heart rate was recorded during hiking to estimate energy expenditure (Heart Rate Method).
  • Energy expenditure was also calculated using distance and elevation gain (Terrain Method), alongside recording food consumption and body weight.

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Main Results:

  • Mean heart rate during hiking was 105 +/- 12 bpm.
  • The Heart Rate Method estimated net energy expenditure at 3410 +/- 955 kcal/day (days 1-4) and 2586 +/- 974 kcal/day (day 5).
  • Gross expenditure averaged 4928 +/- 1050 kcal/day (days 1-4), while energy intake averaged 2134 +/- 625 kcal/day (days 1-4), resulting in a significant caloric deficit and actual weight loss of 1.7 +/- 0.6 kg.

Conclusions:

  • Backpacking leads to very high daily energy expenditure, nearing 5000 kilocalories.
  • Energy intake during the trip was substantially lower than expenditure, resulting in a negative energy balance and weight loss.
  • The Heart Rate Method provides a viable estimation for energy expenditure during strenuous hiking activities.