Physique and thermoregulation in prepubertal males during exercise in a warm, humid environment

The hyperthermic response to exercise in a warm (30°C), humid (80% relative humidity) environment was obtained for 23 prepubertal males. After the initial increase of core temperatures (tympanic and rectal) to elevated set points, further hyperthermia was minimal and was unrelated to any physique va...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physical anthropology 1986-05, Vol.70 (1), p.19-23
Main Authors: Docherty, David, Eckerson, John D., Hayward, John S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anthropometry
Body Constitution
Body Temperature
Body Temperature Regulation
Child
Fever - physiopathology
Heart Rate
Heat stress
Hot Temperature
Humans
Humidity
Male
Microclimate
Oxygen Consumption
Physical Exertion
Preadolescence
Puberty
Skin Temperature
Somatotype
Temperature
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Summary:The hyperthermic response to exercise in a warm (30°C), humid (80% relative humidity) environment was obtained for 23 prepubertal males. After the initial increase of core temperatures (tympanic and rectal) to elevated set points, further hyperthermia was minimal and was unrelated to any physique variable except for the case of endomorphy, which was weakly correlated with hyperthermia at the rectal site. This result for boys is attributed to the combination of small body size (relative to adults) and absence of pronounced, age‐dependent muscular development as evidenced by low rating and small variation of the mesomorphy component of somatotype. Both of these factors were associated with a high surface area to weight ratio compared to adults, which facilitated heat loss. It is concluded that prepubertal males thermoregulate efficiently during moderate exercise in a warm, humid environment. Other than cases of obesity, variation in physique is not an important consideration for assessing the risk of heat strain.
ISSN:0002-9483
1096-8644
DOI:10.1002/ajpa.1330700105