The place I work for is planning to organize hiking outings for clients (mostly ages 18-30). In meetings, there has come up the issue (among many others) of what kinds of risks do overweight people of this age range face in this kind of activity? (At least this is the issue I was assigned to research.)
‘Hiking’ here means movement afoot, whether walking or running, along a dirt, rocky path or upon pathless rocky ground in mountainous relief below 9000 feet elevation.
Where can I find information/data on the following (internet is fine - this is not a Master’s thesis - but I do have access to Journals)?
Relationship between some measure of overweightness/obesity, such as the BMI vs. injuries to legs and feet, such as sprains, tears, and breaks, while walking (pavement or treadmill), running (pavement or treadmill), or hiking.
Relationship between BMI vs. falling and/or loss of balance (while walking, running, or hiking).
Travel velocity (hiking, walking, running) vs. BMI.
Relationship between other incapacitating ailment, such as heat exhaustion, dehydration, hypothermia, stroke, heart failure, hypoglycemia, (i.e. non- limb injuries) vs. BMI.
Please, no fat jokes. I’m just trying to find some data.
Thanks, Chig
P.S. BMI = Body Mass Index. Any other measure of obesity recognized by health professionals is ok too.
Have the clients pass a physical beforehand. Or just have everyone sign a waiver if the issue is liability.
I have never been as low as my assigned BMI range, even when I looked emaciated after a long illness. Though I’m technically obese, I am in good shape and had no trouble this summer on an 8-mile hike up to and on a glacier (though people with better BMIs than I turned back). Overweight per se may not be the issue; familiarity and practice with the activity might be a better indicator. YMMV.
I’m not trying to spawn a debate about the usefulness/uselessness of the BMI or any other similar measure. I can only go with whatever measures are recognized and used by health professionals.
I just need general trends to help guide general planning.
Water, more water, more water and carby snacks.
Especially in weather in 70+F. If the trails are not seriously rocky or have sharp inclines, most anyone can decently navigate the trails.
Make doubly, triply, freaking septuply sure they bring good hiking boots. Preferable broken in, high ankle, not old, good tread. If it is a lot of hiking, and they don’t… have antiseptic and bandages.
Make sure, if the temp is above 30+F, that they dress in layers so they can take off a bunch as they warm up. And then, when you take breaks, which with out of shape people you gotta do a lot, put them back on so you don’t freeze.
There is a bunch more I could say about hiking, backpacking and stuff. Make sure they understand this is not a walk in the park. It can be hard.
And for crying out loud, make eleventuply sure that they don’t think they can climb a mountain or down a ravine if they have never don’t it. If it looks unsafe, treat it as completely unsafe. If it looks safe, be very careful.
First of all, I am a client- and if you proposed taking a hike, well I would do it because I would never admit that I cant. But I shouldn’t. What kind of business are you in that does this or has even entertained the idea?
Anyway here are some statistics on a 10 mile hike made in early summer outside of the Grand Canyon, with accompaning ages, BMI and aches and sprains.
30, female, no hiking experiance 39 BMI soreness in legs mostly in knees and thighs lasting for 3 days afterwords. No blisters
35, male, avid hiker, 27 BMI Sore shoulders from 15-20lb pack. Sore legs 2 days, blisters on both feet after hike
50, female,30 BMI daily 4 mile walker, sore legs and couple of blisters.
47, male, sedentary lifestyle BMI off the charts, fatigue irritability sore legs for 4 days afterwords.