Acute Mountain Sickness Risk Greater in Obese

Is altitude illness more common if you are overweight?

Acute mountain sickness is more common in obese individuals according to findings published in the August 19th issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers from Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas found that obese people have a greater night-time decline in oxygen saturation than their normal weight peers.

The study looked at acute mountain sickness scores (symptoms) and oxygen saturation levels in obese and nonobese men who were placed in a decompression chamber that simulated a climb to 12,000 feet. After 24 hours, nearly twice as many obese subjects were diagnosed with acute mountain sickness, with symptoms including headache, difficulty sleeping, gastrointestinal upset, and fatigue and weakness. Oxygen saturation levels were also found to be much lower in obese subjects.

The researchers concluded that obesity is a previously unrecognized factor in the development of AMS.

Others caution that more research is needed to draw any conclusions due to the limited scope of the study.