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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice

Published on: November 11, 2021

Performance and energy expenditure in cold environments.

Hannu Rintamäki¹

¹Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland. hannu.rintamaki@ttl.fi

Alaska Medicine

|October 13, 2007

Summary

Maintaining thermal insulation in cold environments increases energy expenditure and decreases physical performance. Optimizing clothing by reducing weight, bulk, and friction is key to minimizing performance decrements.

Area of Science:

Environmental physiology
Human performance science

Background:

Cold environments pose challenges for maintaining thermal balance and physical function.
Adequate thermal insulation is crucial, but protective clothing can impede performance.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the relationship between physical performance and energy expenditure in cold conditions.
To identify factors influencing performance decrements due to cold exposure and protective clothing.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies examining energy expenditure and physical performance in cold environments.
Analysis of the impact of environmental factors and clothing characteristics on physiological responses and task performance.

Main Results:

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Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice

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Published on: November 11, 2021

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Published on: March 9, 2021

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A 1°C decrease in ambient temperature increases 24-hour energy expenditure by 105-156 kJ.

Each kilogram of clothing adds approximately 3% to energy costs; each additional layer adds 4%.

Performance decrements are task-specific and correlate with increased energy costs.

Conclusions:

Minimizing clothing weight, bulk, friction, and layers can reduce performance impairment in the cold.
Optimizing clothing design is essential for maintaining physical performance in cold environments.
Understanding these associations is vital for activities in cold climates.