Why do children sweat less compared to adults during physical activity?

The reason children sweat less compared to adults during physical activity is primarily due to their lower sweat production rate. Children have a different physiological response to heat and exercise. While they possess a similar number of sweat glands as adults, their sweat glands operate at a lower capacity, which means they do not produce sweat as efficiently. This can affect their ability to cool down through evaporation, which is key to thermoregulation during physical exertion.

Understanding this helps to highlight the importance of monitoring children's hydration and providing appropriate cooling measures during physical activity. This lower sweat production rate is also linked to children's developing thermoregulation systems, which are still maturing compared to adults. Therefore, while it's not solely about the number of sweat glands, the overall efficiency and rate of sweat production during physical activity are critical factors in this difference between children and adults.