Can Adipose Tissue Influence the Evaluation of Thermographic Images in Adolescents?

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technology easy to use for clinical purposes as a pre-diagnostic tool for many health conditions. However, the analysis process of a thermographic image needs to be meticulous to make an appropriate decision. The adipose tissue is considered a potential influence factor in the skin temperature (Tsk) values obtained by IRT. This study aimed to verify the influence of body fat percentage (%BF) on Tsk measured by IRT in male adolescents. A total of 100 adolescents (16.79 ± 0.97 years old and body mass index of 18.41 ± 2.32 kg/m²) was divided into two groups through the results of a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis: obese ( = 50, %BF 30.21 ± 3.79) and non-obese ( = 50, %BF 11.33 ± 3.08). Thermograms were obtained by a FLIR T420 infrared camera and analyzed by ThermoHuman software version 2.12, subdividing the body into seven regions of interest (ROI). The results showed that obese adolescents presented lower mean Tsk values than the non-obese for all ROIs ( < 0.05), with emphasis on the global Tsk (0.91 °C) and anterior (1.28 °C) and posterior trunk (1.18 °C), with "very large" effect size values. A negative correlation was observed in all the ROI ( < 0.01), mainly in the anterior (r = -0.71, < 0.001) and posterior trunk (r = -0.65, < 0.001). Tables of thermal normality were proposed for different ROIs according to the classification of obesity. In conclusion, the %BF affects the registered Tsk values in male Brazilian adolescents assessed by IRT.