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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Case study: Body composition and bone changes following a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail by a young female
Dale R Wagner1, Edward M Heath1, Macy Gustavus2
1Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA.
Abstract:
A 24-year-old premenopausal female adult completed the entire Pacific Crest Trail, an arduous backpacking thru-hike of 4265 km. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements were taken before and after the trek. Her body fat percentage dropped from 33.2% to 24.9%, and there was a 52% decrease in visceral adipose tissue mass and area. Total body bone mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD) were retained; however, lumbar BMD decreased 3.8%. The hiker eventually regained this loss of lumbar BMD. A decrease in lumbar BMD despite engaging in load-bearing activity was also observed in two recent case study reports of male thru-hikers, suggesting a maladaptive response that warrants further investigation.
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