Responses of Lean and Obese Boys to Repeated Summer Exercise in the Heat Bouts

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the degree of natural acclimatization and artificially induced acclimation-related changes during repeated exercise in the heat bouts in seven lean and seven obese 9- to 12-yr-old boys during summer months. METHODS: Beginning at random times during the summer, subjects underwent a 70-min exercise (30% VO(2max)) in the heat exposure (38 degrees C, 50% relative humidity) on six separate days. RESULTS: On day 1, obese children were less naturally acclimatized as indicated by significantly higher baseline core temperatures (T(c)) (obese = 37.62 +/- 0.06 vs lean = 37.41 +/- 0.06; P < 0.004). By day 6 versus day 1, significant reductions in baseline T(c) were evident in both groups (obese = 37.41 +/- 0.04 vs lean = 37.18 +/- 0.04; both P < 0.05). Baseline T(c) in obese subjects by day 6 was similar to that of lean subjects on day 1. Daily reductions in exercise T(c) were evident in both groups (final exercising T(c) day 1 vs day 6: obese = 38.15 +/- 0.05 vs 37.89 +/- 0.05; lean = 38.17 +/- 0.09 vs 37.72 +/- 0.06 degrees C; both P < 0.001), occurring at a significantly slower rate in obese subjects (final exercise T(c) day 6 - day 1: obese vs lean = -0.26 +/- 0.04 vs -0.45 +/- 0.08 degrees C; P < 0.05). Significant reductions in exercising heart rate (HR) occurred in the lean but not the obese subjects by day 6 (final exercising HR day 1 vs day 6: obese = 132 +/- 3 vs 131 +/- 3, P > 0.05; lean = 138 +/- 3 vs 127 +/- 3 bpm; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During summer months, obese children are less naturally heat-acclimatized and subsequently acclimate at a slower rate.