Maintenance of core temperature is a major component of 24-h energy expenditure, and its dysregulation could contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity. The relationship among temperature, sex, and BMI, however, has not been fully elucidated in humans. This study investigated core temperature in obese and lean individuals at rest, during 20-min exercise, during sleep, and after food consumption. Twelve lean (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)) and twelve obese (30.0-39.9 kg/m(2)) healthy participants, ages 25-40 years old, were admitted overnight in a clinical research unit. Females were measured in the follicular menstrual phase. Core temperature was measured every minute for 24 h using the CorTemp system, a pill-sized sensor that measures core temperature while in the gastrointestinal tract and delivers the measurement via a radio signal to an external recorder. Core temperature did not differ significantly between the obese and lean individuals at rest, postmeals, during exercise, or during sleep (P > 0.5), but core temperature averaged over the entire study was significantly higher (0.1-0.2 °C) in the obese (P = 0.023). Each individual's temperature varied considerably during the study, but at all times, and across the entire study, women were ~0.4 °C warmer than men (P < 0.0001). These data indicate that obesity is not associated with a lower core temperature but that women have a higher core temperature than men at rest, during sleep, during exercise, and after meals.

Introduction: Nights and weekends represent a potentially high‐risk time for hospitalized patients. Data regarding night or weekend admission and its impact on outcomes is limited. We studied the association between night or weekend admission and outcomes. Methods: We reviewed 857 admissions to the general medicine services from the emergency department (ED) at our tertiary care hospital for demographic information, time and day of admission, and hospitalization‐relevant outcomes (length of stay [LOS], hospital charges, intensive care unit [ICU] transfer during hospitalization, repeat ED visit within 30 days, readmission within 30 days, and poor outcome [ICU transfer, cardiac arrest, or death] within the first 24 hours of admission). Outcomes were compared between groups using univariate and multivariate modeling. Results: Complete data for analysis were available for 824 patients. A total of 58% of patients were admitted at night and 22% were admitted during the weekend. Patients admitted at night as compared to those admitted during the day had similar a LOS (4.1 vs. 4.3, P = 0.38), hospital charges (25,200 vs. 27,500, P = 0.17), ICU transfer during hospitalization (3% vs. 6%, P = 0.06), 30 day repeat ED visit (22% vs. 20%, P = 0.42), 30 day readmission (20% vs. 17%, P = 0.23), and poor outcomes within 24 hours of admission (1% vs. 2%, P = 0.15). Patients admitted during the weekend as compared to those admitted during the week had lower hospital charges and lower likelihood of an ICU transfer but were otherwise similar. Conclusion: Night or weekend admission was not associated with worse hospitalization‐relevant outcomes at our tertiary care hospital. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Objective Weight gain during the menopausal transition is common. Although studies have suggested that weight gain is more likely related to aging than menopause, there is a reduction in resting energy expenditure with surgical or natural menopause which is independent of age and changes in body composition. The underlying mechanisms could include a reduction in core body temperature. Methods Data were obtained from two related studies. Sample size was 23 men and 25 women (12 premenopausal,13 postmenopausal). In the Clinical Research Unit, core temperature was measured every minute for 24 hours (CorTemp System,HQ Inc.). Results Mean 24-hour core body temperature was 0.25 ± 0.06 °C lower in postmenopausal than premenopausal women (p=0.001). Mean 24-hour core temperature was 0.34 ± 0.05 °C lower in men than in premenopausal women (p<0.001). Conclusions Postmenopausal women, like men, had lower core body temperatures than premenopausal women. This may have implications for midlife weight gain.

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Inpatients who recognize that they are overweight or obese are interested in pursuing weight-loss initiatives. Despite their interest, most do not receive weight-loss interventions while hospitalized.