RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THERMOREGULATORY PARAMETERS AND DEXA-ESTIMATED REGIONAL FAT

The present investigation utilized dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (D EXA) as a means of assessing the relation between regional percent bod y fat and selected thermoregulatory variables. Tissue insulation (I), rectal temperature (T-re), mean skin temperature (<(T)over bar (sk)>), and regional distribution of fat (i.e., arm, leg, trunk, abdomen) wer e examined utilizing a sample of seven Caucasian males ((X) over bar /- SE age = 23.7 +/- 1.9 years) who were exposed to 8 degrees C air fo r 120 min. The strongest relationships between I, <(T)over bar (sk)>, T-re, and the fatness variables were determined utilizing the all-poss ible regressions procedure. The strongest relationship existed between the combination of abdominal and leg adiposity and I (R(2) = 0.958, p < 0.05). The significant relationship between regional fat distributi on and <(T)over bar (sk)> was described using the linear combination o f trunk, abdominal, and arm fatness (R(2) = 0.979, p < .05). The stron gest relationship for T-re used the combination of trunk, abdominal, a nd leg fatness (R(2) = 0.946, p > .05). Based on these data utilizing the DEXA, one may describe important relationships between thermoregul atory variables and distribution of percent fat. Also, abdominal fatne ss was repeatedly influential in describing relationships between body fatness and thermoregulatory variables.