Pre- to postexpedition changes in the energy usage of women undertaking sustained expeditionary polar travel.

This paper reports the metabolic energy changes in six women who made the first unsupported traverse of Antarctica, covering a distance of 1,700 km in 61 days, hauling sledges weighing up to 80 kg. Pre- and postexpedition, measurements of energy expenditure and substrate utilization were made on all six members of the expedition over a 36-h period in a whole body calorimeter. During the study, subjects were fed an isocaloric diet: 50% carbohydrate, 35% fat, and 15% protein.