Variation in body fat and muscle mass: Responses to seasonal hunger among tropical horticulturists, Zaire

Seasonal hunger is a common phenomenon throughout much of the developing world. Lese horticulturists of northeast Zaire typically lose weight during the months of April‐July. Anthropometric measures of ninety‐two adults over a nine month period indicate that body fat declines before muscle mass during the hunger season. During the rebound after the hunger season, muscle mass recovers prior to body fat. In addition, Lese with greater fat stores prior to the hunger season lose more fat during the hunger season, while those with lower body mass index prior to the hunger season lose more of thier upper arm muscle area during the hunger season. These results indicate that more nutritionally sound individuals cope with the hunger season by utilizing fat reserves, while less well off individuals are forced to suffer significant loss of muscle mass in order to make up for energy deficiencies.

Key words:

• Nutritional status
• body composition
• Africa
• human ecology
• Ituri Forest
• energy metabolism