Adiposity and human regional body temperature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human obesity is associated with increased heat production; however, subcutaneous adipose tissue provides an insulating layer that impedes heat loss. To maintain normothermia, therefore, obese individuals must increase their heat dissipation.

Objective

The objective was to test the hypothesis that temperature in a heat-dissipating region of the hand is elevated in obese adults.

Design

Obese [body mass index (in kg/m(2)) > or = 30] and normal-weight (NW; body mass index = 18-25) adults were studied under thermoneutral conditions at rest. Core body temperature was measured by using ingested telemetric capsules. The temperatures of the third fingernail bed of the right hand and of abdominal skin from an area 1.5 cm inferior to the umbilicus were determined by

SUBMITTER: Savastano DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2762153 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature