How does the body primarily lose heat during exercise?

The body's primary method of losing heat during exercise is through the evaporation of sweat. As the body temperature rises during physical activity, sweat is produced by the sweat glands and released onto the skin's surface. When this sweat evaporates, it absorbs heat from the body, resulting in a cooling effect. This mechanism is particularly important because it allows the body to maintain a stable internal temperature, which is crucial for optimal performance and preventing overheating.

While other methods such as conduction, radiation, and physiological responses like increased heart rate also contribute to thermoregulation, they play a less significant role compared to the evaporative cooling effect of sweating during intense physical activity. Conduction involves direct heat transfer between contact surfaces, radiation involves heat loss through infrared rays, and increased heart rate enhances blood flow but does not directly facilitate heat loss in the same way that evaporation does.