How does obesity affect the body's ability to handle external heat?
Answer
It acts as an insulator, reducing the ability to dissipate heat
Excess body fat serves as an insulating layer that effectively traps heat within the body. This insulation reduces the skin's surface capability to efficiently dissipate internal heat into the surrounding environment. As a result, the body must work much harder to release heat, often struggling to keep the core temperature stable. This increased difficulty in heat dissipation makes those with obesity more prone to feeling intensely hot and experiencing the symptoms of heat intolerance more quickly than individuals with less body fat.
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