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Influence of adiposity on cooling efficiency in hyperthermic individuals

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Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of body adiposity on core cooling rates, as measured by decreases in rectal (T re), esophageal (T es) and aural canal (T ac) temperatures, of individuals rendered hyperthermic by dynamic exercise in the heat. Seventeen male participants were divided into two groups; low body fat (LF, 12.9 ± 1.9%) and high body fat (HF, 22.3 ± 4.3%). Participants exercised at 65% of their maximal oxygen uptake at an ambient air temperature of 40°C until T re increased to 40°C or until volitional fatigue. Following exercise, participants were immersed up to the clavicles in an 8°C circulated water bath until T re returned to 37.5°C. No significant differences were found between the LF and HF in the time to reach a T re of 39.5°C (P = 0.205), 38.5°C (P = 0.343) and 37.5°C (P = 0.923) during the immersion. Overall cooling rate for T re was also similar between groups (0.23 ± 0.09°C/min (LF) vs. 0.20 ± 0.09°C/min (HF), P = 0.647) as well as those for T es (P = 0.502) and T ac (P = 0.940). Furthermore, mean rate of non-evaporative heat loss (702 ± 217 W/m2 (LF) vs. 612 ± 141 W/m2 (HF), P = 0.239) was not different between groups. These results suggest that a difference of ~10% of body adiposity does not affect core cooling rates in active individuals under 25% body fat rendered hyperthermic by exercise.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Grant # RGPIN-298159-2004, held by Dr. Glen P. Kenny). Dr. Glen P. Kenny was supported by a University of Ottawa Resarch Chair Award. The authors wish to thank all the participants who volunteered in the study as well as Graham Schuler and Peter Reardon for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Human Bioenergetics and Environmental Physiology, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 125 University, Montpetit Hall, Room 367, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Bruno Lemire, Daniel Gagnon, Ollie Jay, Lucy Dorman, Michel B. DuCharme & Glen P. Kenny

  2. Defence R&D Canada, Quebec City, QC, Canada, G3J 1X5

    Michel B. DuCharme

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  1. Bruno Lemire
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  2. Daniel Gagnon
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  3. Ollie Jay
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  4. Lucy Dorman
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  5. Michel B. DuCharme
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  6. Glen P. Kenny
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Correspondence to Glen P. Kenny.

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Lemire, B., Gagnon, D., Jay, O. et al. Influence of adiposity on cooling efficiency in hyperthermic individuals. Eur J Appl Physiol 104, 67–74 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0780-0

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