This study investigated the effect of cold acclimatization training on body composition including weight, fat mass, and muscle mass with 10 subjects (5 males and 5 females). During the 3-week acclimatization training program, they visited an artificia...
This study investigated the effect of cold acclimatization training on body composition including weight, fat mass, and muscle mass with 10 subjects (5 males and 5 females). During the 3-week acclimatization training program, they visited an artificial climate chamber (15°C) 15 times and were exposed to cold environment with light clothing for 2 hours. Body composition was measured before and after cold training using bioelectric impedance analysis that was later compared by a paired t-test. In the process of thermoregulation, muscle contraction was accompanied by increased substrate metabolism for rising heat production. After cold training, the muscle mass increased and fat mass decreased significantly (p<.1, p<.05), subsequently the body composition changed. It was found that cold acclimatization training could be used as a treatment for obesity. It was suggested that further investigation on the long term effects of mild cold exposure using clothing and its potential applicability as an obesity treatment.