Work-Related Effects of Heat, Activity, and Fat in Middle Aged Men

Obesity is associated with many undesirable health effects and disease, and middle age is associated with increased risk for disease. Unfortunately, while others have looked at the effects of obesity, gender, and middle age, the combined effects of obesity and middle age on men's ability to do work in hot industrial environments have not been satisfactorily investigated. This small study evaluates the heat tolerance of lean and obese middle aged men both while exercising and resting and the ways in which each compensate for and dissipate increasing environmental heat and heat generated by the body while exercising. As obesity is a worldwide public health crisis and as populations in many industrialized nations age, it is important to understand the combined effects of obesity and middle age for men on their ability to safely work in hot environments. Such information will permit establishing and revising of safe work standards and inform public health outreach to the target population, itself.