Impact of body fat and fitness on human thermal responses under transient neutral-cool indoor conditions

The purpose of this study was to look into how body fat and fitness affect individual thermal response differences in young male college students in transient indoor conditions. Sixteen male subjects were recruited with similar anthropometric characteristics (i.e., all subjects had similar height, weight [M], body mass index, and body surface area [AD]). According to their fitness levels (VO2max was 43.4 and 34.2 ml/kg/min for PE and OE, respectively), the subjects are divided into two groups (high fitness level group [PE] and ordinary fitness level group [OE]). The body fat percentages of the two selected groups were 16.1% and 22%, respectively. Thermal responses, body composition, cardio-pulmonary capacity, and physical fitness of subjects were measured, as well as their health status. There were significant differences in thermal sensation votes (TSV) and thermal comfort votes (TCV) between PE and OE subjects. Body fatness had a significant impact on thermal responses. In practise, occupants with similar anthropometric characteristics (AD/M & body fatness) can be arranged to work in the same offices to maximise their indoor thermal comfort because they have comparable thermal responses to cool environemnts.