Body fatness, body core temperature, and heat loss during moderate-intensity exercise

Jayme D. Limbaugh, Gregory S. Wimer, L. H. Long Lynn H., William H. Baird

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the influence of body fatness on body core temperature and heat loss responses during moderate-intensity exercise. Methods: Nine men with lower body fat and eight men with higher body fat, matched for aerobic fitness, completed 1 h of recumbent cycling at the same absolute intensity in a warm environment (30°C, 40% RH). Percent body fat was measured by hydrostatic weighing, using oxygen dilution to determine residual volume. Esophageal temperature (T es ), mean skin temperature (T̄sk) , and local sweat rate ( ṁsw) were measured at rest and continuously during exercise while forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured at rest and every 10 min during exercise. Results: The lower body fat and higher body fat groups were successfully matched for aerobic fitness, removing the influence of body fatness, given that V̇ O2peak was 50.72 ± 7.34 and 50.43 ± 5.01 ml · kg LBM -1 · min-1, respectively. When compared to lower body fat individuals, % body fat, body surface area (AD), and body mass were higher and A D/mass was lower in higher body fat individuals. T es , T̄sk , FBF, ṁsw , and the slope of ṁsw :T es were not different between groups. Metabolic heat production was similar between the lower body fat (299.7 ± 40.5 W · m -2 ) and higher body fat (288.1 ± 30.6 W · m -2) subjects, respectively. Dry and evaporative heat loss, as well as heat storage during exercise, were not different between groups. Conclusion: These data suggest that there is no effect of body fatness on body core temperature or heat loss responses during moderate-intensity exercise in a warm environment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1153-1158
Number of pages6
JournalAviation Space and Environmental Medicine
Volume84
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Keywords

  • Adiposity
  • Exertion
  • Heat stress
  • Thermoregulation.

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