Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Sheila on 02/06/2008 18:35:51

Title: Why do some people feel the cold more than others?
Post by: Sheila on 02/06/2008 18:35:51

Sheila asked the Naked Scientists:

Why do some people get cold easier than others?  I know fat acts as an insulator for the body but does the greater amount of muscle mass generate more body heat?  One last thing:  why is it if you move from a cold climate to a warmer one, it takes years before your body adjusts before you start to get cold easier?  What exactly happens to the body to cause this?  Great show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) and thanks for your help!

Sheila

What do you think?

Title: Why do some people feel the cold more than others?
Post by: RD on 02/06/2008 19:36:37

Size matters: smaller individuals (e.g. babies) have a higher surface-to-volume ratio than larger individuals (e.g. adults) and consequently lose heat faster.

In warm-blooded creatures of the same size then blood circulation is a factor e.g. elderly people with vascular disease will "feel the cold" more than younger people, also elderly people tend not to have a lot of insulating fat.
[obese individuals are less likely to become elderly].