A Venn diagram consisting of percentage body mass loss, urine color, and thirst perception (weight, urine, thirst [WUT]) has been suggested as a practical method to assess hydration status. However, no study to date has examined relationships between WUT and urine hydration indices. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between urine specific gravity, urine osmolality, and the WUT criteria. Urine specific gravity and urine osmolality indicate hypohydration when the WUT criteria demonstrate hypohydration (≥2 markers). Laboratory cohort study. Level 3. A total of 22 women (mean ± SD; age, 20 ± 1 years; mass, 65.4 ± 12.6 kg) and 21 men (age, 21 ± 1 years; body mass, 78.7 ± 14.6 kg) participated in this study. First morning body mass, urine color, urine specific gravity, urine osmolality, and thirst level were collected for 10 consecutive days in a free-living situation. Body mass loss >1%, urine color >5, and thirst level ≥5 were used as the dehydration thresholds. The number of markers that indicated dehydration levels were counted and categorized into either 3, 2, 1, or 0 WUT markers that indicated dehydration. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey pairwise comparisons was used to assess the differences in urine specific gravity and urine osmolality between the different number of WUT markers. Urine specific gravity in 3 WUT markers (mean ± SD [effect size], 1.021 ± 0.007 [0.57]; P = 0.025) and 2 WUT markers (1.019 ± 0.010 [0.31]; P = 0.026) was significantly higher than 1 WUT marker (1.016 ± 0.009). Urine mosmolality in 2 WUT markers (705 ± 253 mOsmol [0.43]; P = 0.018) was significantly higher than 1 WUT (597 ± 253 mOsmol). Meeting at least 2 WUT markers resulted in sensitivities of 0.652 (2 WUT criteria met) and 0.933 (3 WUT criteria met) to detect urine osmolality >700 mOsmol. These results suggest that when 3 WUT markers are met, urine specific gravity and urine osmolality were greater than euhydration cutoff points. The WUT criterion is a useful tool to use in field settings to assess hydration status when first morning urine sample was used. Athletes, coaches, sports scientists, and medical professionals can use WUT criteria to monitor dehydration with reduced cost and time.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of heat acclimatization (HAz) followed by heat acclimation (HA) on physiological adaptations. 25 male endurance athletes (age 36 ± 12 y, height 178.8 ± 6.39 cm, body mass 73.03 ± 8.97 kg, and VO_2peak 57.5 ± 7.0 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) completed HAz and HA. HAz was 3 months of self-directed summer training. In the laboratory, a 5-day HA prescribed exercise to target a hyperthermic zone (HZHA) of T_rec between 38.50 and 39.75 °C for 60 min. Exercise trials were 60 min of running (59% ± 2% VO_2peak) in an environmental chamber (wet bulb globe temperature 29.53 ± 0.63 °C) and administered at: baseline, post-HAz, and post-HAz+HA. Measured variables included internal body temperature (T_rec), heart rate (HR), and sweat rate (SR). Repeated measure ANOVAs and post hoc comparisons were used to assess statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences. T_rec was lower post-HAz+HA (38.03 ± 0.39 °C) than post-HAz (38.25 ± 0.42 °C, p = 0.009) and baseline (38.29 ± 0.37 °C, p = 0.005). There were no differences between baseline and post-HAz (p = 0.479) in T_rec. HR was lower post-HAz (143 ± 12 bpm, p = 0.002) and post-HAz+HA (134 ± 11 bpm, p < 0.001) than baseline (138 ± 14 bpm). HR was lower post-HAz+HA than post-HAz (p = 0.013). SR was higher post-HAz+HA (1.93 ± 0.47 L·h⁻¹) than post-HAz (1.76 ± 0.43 L·h⁻¹, p = 0.027). Combination HAz and HA increased physiological outcomes above HAz. This method can be used to improve performance and safety in addition to HAz alone.

Thirst motivates consumption of water necessary for optimal health and cognitive-physiological functions. Other than thirst, little is known about coexisting perceptions and moods that provide information to the brain and participate in body water homeostasis. The purpose of this investigation was to observe perceptions, somatic sensations, and moods during controlled changes of hydration status. During routine daily activities interspersed with laboratory visits, 18 healthy young men (age, 23±3 y; body mass, 80.13±10.61 kg) self-reported hourly ratings (visual analog scales, VAS) of 17 subjective perceptions, across two 24-h periods (ad libitum food and water intake while euhydrated; water restriction with dry food intake [WR]) and during a 30-min rehydration session (R₃₀, 1.46±0.47 L water intake). At the end of WR, body mass loss reached 1.67 kg (2.12%). Distinct perceptions were identified during euhydration, WR and immediately after R₃₀. Starting approximately 4 h after WR began (body mass loss of ∼0.5%), perceptual changes included progressively intensifying ratings of thirst, mouth dryness, desire for water, and pleasantness of drinking. In comparison, immediately after R₃₀, participants reported a reversal of the perceptions observed during WR (above) plus cooler thermal sensation, increased satisfaction, and stomach fullness. These VAS ratings suggested that aversive moods contributed to drinking behavior and supported previously published animal studies. In conclusion, this investigation delineates previously unreported perceptions and their evolution (e.g., appearance, extinction, time course) that motivated drinking during WR and discouraged overdrinking after R₃₀.