The effect of body fat percentage and body fat distribution on skin surface temperature with infrared thermography

This study aimed to search for relations between body fat percentage and skin temperature and to describe possible effects on skin temperature as a result of fat percentage in each anatomical site. Women (26.11±4.41 years old) (n =123) were tested for: body circumferences; skin temperatures (thermal camera); fat percentage and lean mass from trunk, upper and lower limbs; and body fat percentage (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry). Values of minimum (T_Mi), maximum (T_Ma), and mean temperatures (T_Me) were acquired in 30 regions of interest. Pearson's correlation was estimated for body circumferences and skin temperature variables with body fat percentage. Participants were divided into groups of high and low fat percentage of each body segment, of which T_Me values were compared with Student's t-test. Linear regression models for predicting body fat percentage were tested. Body fat percentage was positively correlated with body circumferences and palm temperatures, while it was negatively correlated with most temperatures, such as T_Ma and T_Me of posterior thighs (r =−0.495 and −0.432), T_Me of posterior lower limbs (r =−0.488), T_Ma of anterior thighs (r =−0.406) and T_Mi and T_Me of posterior arms (r =−0.447 and −0.430). Higher fat percentages in the specific anatomical sites tended to decrease T_Me, especially in posterior thighs, shanks and arms. Skin temperatures and body circumferences predicted body fat percentage with 58.3% accuracy (R =0.764 and R² =0.583). This study clarifies that skin temperature distribution is influenced by the fat percentage of each body segment.