Why We Sweat
“Sweating is the body’s mechanism to make sure that we don’t overheat,” Dr. Chu explains.
A few factors influence exactly how much we sweat. Higher temperatures — particularly if it’s humid or there’s little breeze, so the sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily — will increase our perspiration rate. A vigorous workout creates the same effect by increasing our internal body temperature, Chu says.
But even if two people are doing the same workout in the same place, one might sweat more than the other. That’s because genetics play a role. Men also typically sweat more than women, older adults sometimes sweat less, and larger individuals tend to sweat more than smaller ones, Dr. Reiner says.
But it’s not because they’re working harder. “It’s just because their body is better at dissipating heat — it’s basically an adaptation that allows you to prolong exercise so you don’t have to slow down or spend time resting to cool your body off,” Reiner explains.
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