Yes—exercise in thermoneutral conditions may prompt some adaptations relevant to exercising in heat, but a 2026 meta-analysis found greater changes in several measured outcomes when exercise took place in hot conditions. The findings concern physiological responses and aerobic performance, not protection from heat illness, and they are not a reason to exercise in extreme heat.
What the 2026 meta-analysis found
Chen and colleagues compared exercise in hot conditions (ExH) with exercise in thermoneutral conditions (ExN) across 23 studies. Their meta-analysis, published online August 24, 2026, assessed changes in core temperature, heart rate, skin temperature, sweat rate and aerobic performance in heat. The primary paper reports standardized effect sizes for the differences between the two exercise settings:
| Measured outcome | ExH compared with ExN | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Resting core temperature | Greater reduction with ExH (g = 0.51) | A larger change in this measure after hot-condition exercise. |
| Core temperature during exercise | Greater reduction with ExH (g = 0.55) | ExH produced a larger change in the measured exercise response. |
| Heart rate during exercise | Greater reduction with ExH (g = 0.69) | The measured exercise heart-rate response changed more with ExH. |
| Sweat rate | Greater increase with ExH (g = 0.56) | ExH produced a larger increase in sweat rate. |
| Aerobic performance in heat | Greater increase with ExH (g = 0.56) | ExH produced a larger improvement in the performance measure. |
| Skin temperature during exercise | No significant additional effect found | The analysis did not establish a meaningful extra change from ExH on this measure. |
These are group-level standardized effects, not promised changes for an individual. The paper also found that ExN groups improved from baseline in exercise core temperature (g = 0.41) and exercise heart rate (g = 0.57). That supports the narrower point that exercise without added environmental heat can contribute to some measured adaptations.
Read the meta-analysis by Chen and colleagues in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.
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What the numbers look like in everyday terms
The primary journal abstract reports standardized effects. Earth.com’s October 2, 2026 account gives absolute changes reported for the studies: across 413 participants, the exercise programs lasted four to 15 days, and hot-training conditions ranged from 30°C to 45°C, averaging about 37°C. Its report says the exercise heart-rate change favored ExH by 6.11 beats per minute. It also reports additional reductions of about 0.17°C in resting core temperature and 0.09°C in exercise core temperature with ExH, while ExN groups saw reductions of about 5.6 beats per minute in exercise heart rate and 0.14°C in exercise core temperature. These are figures as reported by Earth.com, not absolute estimates supplied in the accessible primary abstract.
See Earth.com’s report and its account of the absolute changes.
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What “adapting to heat” means here
The study examined changes in physiological measures and aerobic performance during heat stress. Lower exercise core temperature or heart rate and a higher sweat rate can indicate altered responses during exercise, while improved aerobic performance describes performance under the conditions assessed. The results suggest that exercise itself can provide some adaptive stimulus, with environmental heat adding to several measured changes in this evidence synthesis.
They do not show that someone becomes immune to dangerous heat, can safely tolerate any temperature, or is protected from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The analysis did not measure whether exercise or heat training prevents heat-related illness.
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How strong is the evidence?
The review included 23 studies, but the evidence has important limits. The source article characterizes overall certainty as low to very low and notes variation in protocols and testing methods, as well as instability in some core-temperature results. Participants were mostly men and often trained athletes; cycling was a common exercise mode. The findings therefore cannot be assumed to apply equally to women, older people, beginners, outdoor workers or people with health conditions.
The authors reported larger benefits in some subgroup analyses for elite athletes (Tier 3) and longer interventions. These are patterns within the available studies, not a universal rule that elite status or a longer program will produce a particular result. Some subgroup findings were based on few studies.
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Should you exercise in extreme heat to adapt?
This meta-analysis does not provide an individualized training plan or establish that deliberately exercising in extreme heat is necessary. Its hot-condition protocols varied, and the evidence does not identify a universally safe temperature, duration, or schedule. The result is a comparison of measured outcomes—not a recommendation to expose yourself to dangerous conditions.
For a personal heat-training plan, especially if you have a medical condition or work or train in high temperatures, seek guidance from an appropriate health or sports professional. Do not use the study’s average temperature or program lengths as a do-it-yourself prescription.
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