A longitudinal study of body weight and body fat changes in Antarctica.

Body weight and body fat changes (calculated from skinfold thickness) that occurred in a male population spending a year on an Antarctic base are described. There was a marked individual variation in patterns of weight and fat changes between seasons but mean values for the whole community showed little change over the year. Combining skinfold and body weight measurements revealed probable individual differences in fat gain or loss with weight gain and loss, but the role of changes in total body water or fat-free mass could not be determined. The possibility of combining long-term measurements of body fat and energy intake to provide an estimate of energy expenditure is discussed.