Thermoregulatory and perceptual responses of lean and obese fit and unfit girls exercising in the heat.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the thermoregulatory and perceptual responses of obese and lean girls, either fit or unfit, exercising in the heat at a similar rate of metabolic heat production per unit body mass. METHODS: A total of 34 pubescent girls were allocated in four groups: 12 obese fit, 9 obese unfit, 5 lean fit, and 8 lean unfit. The obese groups (13.2±1.4 years, 40.5%±5.8% fat by DXA) differed in their aerobic fitness (V˙O2peak 76.0±8.1 vs. 56.6±5.8mL.kgmusclemass-1.min-1), as well as the lean groups (13.1±1.6 years, 24.0%±4.8% fat) (V˙O2peak 74.5±2.9 vs. 56.2±5.0mL.kgmuscle mass-1min-1). Girls cycled two bouts of 25min with a 10min rest in between, at ∼5.4W.kg-1 in the heat (36°C and 40% relative humidity) and they were kept euhydrated. Rectal and skin temperatures and heart rate were measured every 5min. Perceptual responses were evaluated throughout the exercise. RESULTS: Initial rectal temperature was higher in the obese subjects compared to the lean subjects (37.5±0.3 and 37.2±0.3°C). No difference was observed among the girls whom were obese (eight fit or unfit) and lean (also fit or unfit) throughout the exercise in rectal temperature (37.6±0.2, 37.5±0.3, 37.5±0.3, 37.4±0.3°C, respectively), skin temperature (34.8±0.8, 35.1±1.0, 34.4±0.9, 35.2±0.9°C), and heart rate (128±18; 118±12, 130±16, 119±16beatsmin-1). No differences were observed in perceptual responses among groups. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the adiposity or aerobic fitness, pubescent girls had similar thermoregulatory and perceptual responses while cycling in the heat at similar metabolic heat production.