Responses of Obese and Non-obese Boys Cycling in the Heat
Abstract
This study compared rectal temperature (Tre), heat sensation and sweating between obese and non-obese boys during cycling in the heat. Participants (aged 12-15 years) were 17 obese and 16 non-obese (BMI=29.4±4.3 and 16.8±1.7 kg · m⁻², respectively) boys. They cycled for 30-min (50-55% VO(2peak)) in a climatic chamber (35°C, 45% RH) and Tre, heat sensation and sweat volume were monitored. From the start to the end of cycling, Tre was similar between the obese (37.4±0.3-37.8±0.3°C) and non-obese (37.3±0.2-37.9±0.2°C) groups. Heat sensation was higher in the obese group from the start (3.6±2.7 vs. 1.3±1.4 cm; P=0.008) to the end (7.6±2 vs. 5.2±2.2 cm; P=0.003) of cycling. Sweat volume corrected by body surface area was similar between the obese (200±123 mL · m⁻²) and non-obese (212±80 mL · m⁻²) groups. Initial and final HR were similar in both groups, and RPE was higher in the obese group at 25th (P=0.040) and 30th (P=0.019) min. In conclusion, the obese pubescent participants presented similar Tre and sweating volume, but higher heat sensation while cycling in the heat.
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Out of four laboratory studies in normal-weight and overweight children, three show significant differences in thermal sensation between the two groups.
“Out of four laboratory studies in normal-weight and overweight children, three show significant differences in thermal sensation between the two groups [70,74,77].”
From Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models (2018) · cites this paper as [74]
Overweight children perceived the thermal environment as being hotter than the non-overweight group, with corresponding higher body temperatures in the overweight children.
“Overweight children perceived the thermal environment as being hotter than the non-overweight group, with corresponding higher body temperatures in the overweight children.”
From Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models (2018) · cites this paper as [74]
Other studies have shown no effect of body fat percentage on heat loss and/or body temperature, which the authors have attributed to high skin blood flow in heat and exercise.
“However, other studies have shown no effect of body fat percentage on heat loss and/or body temperature, which the authors have attributed to high skin blood flow in heat and exercise [72–74].”
From Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models (2018) · cites this paper as [74]
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- Authors
- Sehl, P., Leites, G., Martins, J., & Meyer, F.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Sehl, P.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2012-02-29
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 06
- Pages
- 497-501
- ISSN
- 0172-4622 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-3964
- OpenAlex
- W2317489045
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- childhood obesity, heat stress, cycling, rectal temperature, heat sensation, sweating, sweat volume, perceived exertion, heart rate
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Bicycling, Child, Heart Rate, Hot Temperature, Humans, Male, Obesity, Oxygen Consumption, Sweat, Sweating
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