title: Caloric and exercise requirements of space flight: biostereometric results from skylab.
abstract: The biostereometric study of the Skylab astronauts used stereophotogrammetry to make accurate three-dimensional measurement of body form, from which regional and total body volumes were derived. Volume changes in the thighs and calves, over the course of the flight, showed a high correlation with inflight exercise on the bicycle ergometer, and suggested that an exercise level of 80-100 W-min/d/kg lean body mass would be necessary to prevent inflight muscle atrophy. The bicycle ergometer is thus a relatively inefficient means of preventing leg muscle atrophy. Inflight caloric intake showed a high correlation with the change in volume of the buttocks, the abdomen, and the body as a whole, and suggested that a caloric intake of 47-51 kcal/d/kg lean body mass would be necessary to prevent a change in body fat. Only one of the astronauts exceeded this range and gained body fat; the group as a whole showed a mean fat loss of 1.2 kg.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010780:Photogrammetry; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013026:Space Flight