Final answer:
Yes, it is true that a premature baby's heat regulation center is not fully developed and its heat production may be inadequate. Newborns rely on nonshivering thermogenesis through brown fat to maintain their body temperature, but premature infants may struggle more with thermoregulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a premature baby's heat regulation center is not fully developed, and its heat production may be inadequate is true. Immediately after birth, newborns are exposed to cooler external environments and must adjust from being in the warm amniotic fluid. Newborns, especially premature babies, may struggle with thermoregulation due to several factors. Their body surface area to volume ratio is higher than that of adults, which means they lose heat more readily and have less bodily volume to generate heat. Additionally, they lack significant amounts of subcutaneous fat that would provide insulation against the cold. Nonshivering thermogenesis is a mechanism unique to infants, where heat is produced by breaking down brown adipose tissue, or brown fat. This tissue is vital in heat regulation for newborns as it can be broken down to generate heat without the need for shivering, a function their immature musculature limits.