We’re well aware of the mental and physical health benefits of hill walking and mountaineering. The challenge of ascending to a lofty peak gives a great sense of satisfaction and achievement; time spent in nature puts things into perspective; and the exercise involved in reaching a summit is hugely beneficial. If you’re looking to lose weight, we think it’s a much more rewarding pursuit than hour after hour spent in an indoor gym.
However, could simply standing on high mountain mean that you lose weight? And, if so, does this lost weight return when you descend? Our expert mountaineer and science lover has delved into the physics to bring you the answers. We’re a curious bunch, us humans. Type “do you weigh less on” into Google and an interesting range of questions comes up, including “on Mars”, “on the Moon”, “on the Equator” and “on a plane”.
We’re seemingly interested in how our location has a bearing on our weight. Also included in the drop-down box are “on top of a mountain” and “on Mount Everest”, the loftiest of all our planet’s peaks. Let’s deal with the question head on and see, if true, whether trekking up Mount Everest in your is an option if you wanted to shed those pounds.
Firstly, lets consider the difference between mass and weight, plus the part gravity has to play in all of this: Mass is a fixed property. It’s the measure of how much matter there is in any given object and it’s measured in kilograms. Your mass is .
