We aren’t an atypical couple. While snuggling in bed, hubby is roasting–and I’m fuh-reezing. (“Get those feet away from me!”)
My hubby has a metabolism that has been teasingly compared to that of a hummingbird on speed. Although he can down a half dozen Krispy Kremes in one sitting, he remains quite slender. He is not so impressed with this, saying he’s “inefficient”–his body radiates too much heat, wasting all those ingested calories! (Of course, on behalf of Womandome, I feel the need to painfully roll my eyes when he complains about being able to eat WHATEVER THE FRICK HE WANTS in WHATEVER QUANTITIES HE WANTS. Yeah, that’s rough. 
)
I have a comparably slower, but not slow, metabolism. I’m still thin, but well–I most certainly could not consume calories anywhere near the manner and magnitude he does. I am made easily cool to cold, and my face, nose, ears, hands, etc. will be affected by as warm as 50 degree temperatures…often, they are “defrosted” on warm/practically glowing hubby’s hands and/or legs.
So–all things being equal (clothing, temperature, environment, etc), who would be best served by their metabolism in extreme cold conditions? Would it be hubby, kept warm by his rapid nutrient processing? Or would this burn him out, so to speak, and cause him to suffer from the cold more quickly and severely will his “fuel” runs out?
Or would I last longer–my calories are burned more slowly, perhaps creating more of a steady heat. Or…perhaps having a body that so instantly sends its warm blood to the vital organs is of benefit. Or detriment?
What is your prediction?
Well, perhaps not “prediction.”
What’s your hypothesis of which of us would last longer (or would suffer the least injury over the same length of time) in extreme cold conditions?
(No, we’re not about to test this theory. It’s sheer conjecture, begun during one of those long road trips…)
Last longer = who will die last?
Of exposure? Hunger? Thirst?
Or who will run inside first?
I think you’re going to have to specify some conditions.
IIRC, Naked humans in 40 degrees or less will die of exposure in 4 hours or less. I suppose metabolism would be a factor, as would insulation and perhaps many others, but 4 hours is not a lot of time, any way you slice it.
I’m guessing your husband weighs more than you, which could overcome a fast metabolism’s inefficiency, depending on his weight/metabolism ratio vs. yours.
Well, yeah, I suppose I’m thinking “die last” but that just sounds creepy so…let’s create these conditions.
We’re stuck in the snow, but separately. We cannot rely on cuddling-up-body heat. We have no shelter. It’s cold, but not Everest cold, outside…let’s say 25 degrees, and there’s no wind of any consequence.
We are dressed for the weather–mittens, large jacket, etc.–but we are bound to suffer some amount of exposure. The question is–which will suffer more.
Let’s say our exposure is…hmm…well, whatever is enough to make you Not Well but Not Dead (again avoiding the creepy factor). I have no idea what that is, so I’ll hazard a mostly random guess: 4 evening hours. (No sunlight.)
Does that help? 
Just trying to see, ultimately, which one of us is kept warmer, longer, by our opposing metabolisms.
Body mass, and fat are big factors in hypothermia. Great big fat guys are likely to be able to survive longer than others in hypothermia risk situations. Women are more resistant than men of the same body size.
Infants are the most susceptible of all, followed by young children. Then old people, because of the metabolism issue. If your metabolism is efficient enough to allow you to maintain physical exertion for long periods, it is sufficient to protect you from hypothermia as well, for some time. When you get tired, though, it will catch up with you. How much you ate is a big factor, and so is how you manage your exposure. (keep your body exposed over as little area as possible, and keep hydrated, and alert.)
Tris
Ahhhh…so like practically all things, Tris, there are too many other factors to consider for an “off the cuff”–but accurate–answer?
I shoulda known. But interesting!
Well, look, if it’s fair to say that old people are more at risk because of their slow metabolisms, then I think it would be fair to say that if Ruffian and Hubby were the same size and weight and had had the same thing to eat for supper, then Ruffian with her slower metabolism would be at more risk.
[hijack]
Same “cold feet” problem here. One word: Bedsocks. I got two pairs of crocheted bedsocks with warm fuzzy liners for Christmas and I have been in heaven all week.
Why did nobody tell me? I’ve been wearing just plain socks to bed for a long time now, but these are fabulous.
[/hijack]
You know, it sounds terribly silly, but if your hands and feet are cold, you should try putting on a hat (They make them for sleeping, too.)
Tris
That was going to be next, if the bedsocks didn’t work. 