This paper investigated principal parameters affecting individual differences of thermal preference. 36 male college students were selected from three thermal preference groups by a questionnaire, including 10 of cool preference (Gcp), 17 of neutral preference (Gnp), and 9 of warm preference (Gwp). Subsequently, their thermal preferences were further examined by a human trial in a climate chamber. Once significant differences were found between groups, subjects' 57 parameters, including body geometry, body composition, cardio-pulmonary capacity, and physical fitness, were measured. Compared to Gwp, Gcp had higher weight (80.0 vs. 64.2 kg), body mass index (BMI) (26 vs. 20.8 kg·m-2 ), body surface area (BSA) (1.94 vs. 1.78 m2 ), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (87.29% vs. 80.23%), body circumferences (except for forearm circumference), skinfold thickness of all the local parts, volume of expired air (VE) (50.97 vs. 40.81 L/min), and body fat rate (BFR) (24.44% vs. 14.07%), but had a lower specific surface area (SSA) (0.02477 vs. 0.02791 m2 /kg), resting metabolic rate (RMR) per kilogram (1.21 vs. 1.47 W/kg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (65.30 vs. 74.69 mmHg), and percentages of muscle (71.17% vs. 80.95%), total water (55.35% vs. 63.14%), skeletal muscle (42.47% vs. 47.94%), protein (14.90% vs. 16.94%), inorganic salt (5.29% vs. 5.86%), and bone mineral (0.044% vs. 0.048%). Among these parameters, body fat and SSA played a dominant role (accounting for 85.76%) in explaining individual differences in thermal preference.
Keywords: body composition; body geometry; cardio-pulmonary capacity; physical fitness; thermal preference.
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