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BACKGROUND Bodyweight loss during spaceflight has been observed among astronauts since the early space missions. Considerable mission data has been accumulated, including data from female astronauts, on the many Shuttle and International Space Station missions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between observed weight loss during spaceflight and potential covariate factors. METHODS We performed a statistical analysis of the association between bodyweight change and plausible clinical and mission covariates, using data obtained from the NASA Longitudinal Study of Astronaut Health (LSAH). RESULTS We confirmed that spaceflight is associated with weight change (-2.1 +/- 0.1%, N = 514). Prospective predictors of weight loss included: being a first-time astronaut, preflight bodyweight and BMI, routinely performing preflight exercise sessions lasting greater than 1 h, and baseline levels of cholesterol, potassium, and chloride. Severe space motion sickness was significantly associated with greater weight loss. Unexpectedly, a higher number of extravehicular activities per mission protected against weight loss. Mission duration had the strongest association with bodyweight change (-2.4 +/- 0.4% per 100 d in space). CONCLUSIONS On average, space missions are associated with cumulative loss of bodyweight over time. Unless effective countermeasures are implemented, significant weight loss will be a likely outcome in a subset of astronauts as mission durations increase. New predictors of intra-mission bodyweight changes and other associated factors are identified.
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
February 1967,
Science (New York, N.Y.),
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
April 1994,
Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
February 2013,
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.),
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
August 2005,
Obesity surgery,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
February 2005,
The British journal of nutrition,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
December 2016,
Current obesity reports,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
January 2004,
International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
August 2013,
Physiology & behavior,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
January 1987,
International journal of obesity,
Akiko Matsumoto, and
Kenneth J Storch, and
Adrienne Stolfi, and
Stanley R Mohler, and
Mary Anne Frey, and
T Peter Stein
August 2019,
Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging,
