Abstract
This study is the first part of the research to reveal the effects of somatotype characteristics on body temperature control reaction as well as thermal sensation. Nine healthy female collegians (classified into 3 body types of thin, normal, and obese according to Rohrer index) living in Busan were chosen as the subjects. The following are the results: Significant differences of skin temperature appeared in the parts of epigastrium (thin/normal>obese), anterior forearm (normal>thin/obese), and anterior leg (obese > thin/normal) as well as mean skin temperature. Mean skin temperature temporarily dropped owing to the exercise but tended to recover as time went by. Skin temperature of normal/thin shows higher than obese type. The change of skin temperature was noticed in the order of forehead > epigastrium > anterior forearm > anterior leg > anterior thigh (obese type) ; epigastrium > forehead > anterior forearm > anterior thigh > anterior leg (normal type) ; epigastrium > forehead > anterior forearm > anterior thigh > anterior leg (thin type, before and after exercise); epigastrium > forehead > anterior forearm > anterior leg > anterior thigh (thin type, during exercise). Significant differences were shown in the temperature change inside clothes according to somatotypes. No significant differences were revealed in thermal sensation, moisture sensation, and comfortable sensation according to body types and time.