Abstract
The calculation of heat debt through indirect calorimetry requires an accurate assessment of the various components of heat production and heat loss. This paper presents methods of analysis and interpretation of data based on a review of recent advances. Topics include the assessment of body characteristics (surface area, body fat, specific heat, and deep body and skin temperatures), metabolic heat production and shivering metabolism, sensible (conductive, convective, radiative) and insensible (sweating) heat losses, respiratory heat losses, and concludes with a critical examination of mean body temperature. Where measurements of certain variables are unavailable, methods of prediction are suggested.
