Wearing Heavy Clothes While Exercising

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are constantly tweaking factors that affect performance in the hopes of breaking personal bests or refining physical skills. For some individuals, that might mean making adjustments to clothing choices. According to the San Diego State University article, “Moderating Effects of the Climactic Environment,” athletes training for major events in different climates sometimes gradually add extra clothing layers, such as a tracksuit or head covering, hoping to acclimatize before competitions. In some cases, people who aren’t necessarily athletes but just want to lose weight might also pull on additional layers while exercising because they want to shed pounds. Wearing heavy clothes while exercising can be counterproductive and even dangerous, however.

  1. Heat Acclimatization

    • Wearing heavy clothes while working out can indeed temporarily affect the way the body heats and cools itself, according to San Diego State University. Temporarily affecting the body doesn’t necessarily translate to heat acclimatization down the road, although in some cases well-conditioned team players, such as field hockey players, did experience some level of heat acclimatization, according to the SDSU article mentioned above. However, donning additional clothing layers increased the risk of overheating, creating fatigue so that athletes were less able to perform physical tasks and drills.

    Physiological Effects

    • If you’re wearing heavy clothing while exercising, or clothing made from impermeable materials that makes cooling difficult, this results in excessive sweating, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. When your core body temperature becomes too high, the body tries to cool itself by sending blood to circulate through your skin, according to the Mayo Clinic article, “Heat and Exercise: Keeping Cool in Hot Weather.” This leaves less blood available for your muscles and increases your heart rate. Temperature irregularities within the body can increase the risk of hypothermia. "The Baltimore Sun" states that excessive sweating can also lead to dehydration and its associated risks: fainting, heat stroke and hospitalization.

    Myths

    • Sometimes people wear heavy clothing during exercise because they believe it will help them lose weight. Although you might lose weight from this strategy, it’s only temporary water weight loss, notes "The Baltimore Sun." As soon as you drink water, weight will return to its original state. Sweating has no useful purpose linked with weight loss.

    Recommended Clothing

    • Instead of piling on heavy clothing, athletes and people working out are better off wearing light-colored clothing when it’s hot, and allowing the skin to be exposed where appropriate to permit cooling via sweat, according to San Diego State University. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that dark clothing absorbs heat, increasing the chances of discomfort or overheating. Heavy layers, including helmets, full-body clothing or heavy pads can prevent the body from cooling. Lightweight clothing keeps you cooler and safer. The potential for snags and tearing is another downfall of wearing heavy clothes while exercising. Baggy sweatpants or excess clothing can get caught in a bicycle wheel or weightlifting equipment.