BODY-COMPOSITION AND SKIN TEMPERATURE-VARIATION

Temperature variations near four common torso skin temperature sites were measured on 17 lightly clad subjects exposed to ambient temperatures of 28, 23, and 18°C. Although variations in skin temperature exceeding 7°C over a distance of 5 cm were observed on individuals, the mean magnitude of these variations was 2-3°C under the coolest condition and less at the warmer temperatures. There was no correlation between the temperature variation and skinfold thickness at a site or with estimations of whole body fat content. These findings imply that errors in mean skin temperature measurement could arise from probe mislocation and/or subcutaneous fat distribution and that the problem becomes more acute with increasing cold stress. However, the magnitudes of these errors cannot be easily predicted from common anthropometric measurements.