Abstract
The Purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of body fat on thermophysiological responses and subjective sensations under hot environment. Fifteen female college students volunteered as subjects. Subjects were organized into three groups - low body fat group(L group : less than 20% of body fat), medium body fat group(M group : 20%~30% of body fat) and high body fat group(H group : More than 30% of Body fat). The experiment was carried out in a climate chamber of $32^{\circ}C$, 60%RH with the repeat of having 'Exercise' and 'Rest' period. The results of this study are as follows ; Rectal temperature maintained higher in M group and L group than in H group in the period of exercise 1. High body fat was so effective in keeping the core temperature, it seems that as was usually the case in cold environment. The mean skin temperature was the lowest value in H group but the ratio of mean skin temperature change was clearly high value in H group. The above facts indicated that thermophysiological response occurs rapidly in H group. Blood pressure, pulse rate and metabolic rate of H group showed the highest values and those of L group showed the lowest value in all period of experiment. Effective of sweating rate was higher in H group than other groups. In subjective sensations, The H group felt more pleasant and comfortable than M group. With these results in mind, people of H group responses more actively for thermal regulation in a hot environment, and these leads H group to feel more pleasant and comfortable.
