COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, BODY TEMPERATURE AND BASAL METABOLISM BETWEEN THAI AND JAPANESE IN A NEUTRAL TEMPERATURE ZONE

The aim of this research is to compare the physical status, basal metabolism and some other physiological characteristics between native Thai in Bangkok, Thailand, and native Japanese in Japan, and discuss the results regarding acclimatization to tropical climate. Measurements of the Thai were made in September in Bangkok, while those of native Japanese were done in August at Nishinomiya (Japan). The subjects were adult males (20-22 years old) in both cases. Physically the Thai are generally a little shorter and more slender than Japanese in the mean value. The mean skinfold thickness for Thai was 8. 4mm, which is significantly less than that of Japanese (11. 0mm). The mean oral temperature measured under basal conditions was the same between both subject groups. The Thai showed a slightly lower basal metabolism per unit body surface, and mean skin temperature measured in a similar environmental condition was lower for Thai than for Japanese. The results of anthropometric measurements and physiological characteristics measured were discussed in view of physiology of acclimatization to tropical climate.