Winter Temperatures and Weight Loss

Black cat on radiator When we think about the causes of weight gain, we usually think that food is the main culprit for our extra pounds.

That and the fact that we don’t work out as much as we should.

However, some recently published studies show that other factors influence our weight as well as eating too much or not exercising.

The Obesity Reviews published an article referring to the link between our body weight and the temperature in our homes during winter.

Yes, that’s right, there is a link between these two! I know it’s weird when you think about it in the first place; but after reading what they had to say, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Basically, if it’s too hot in your apartment, your body gets lazy. Meaning, it stops burning fat and calories – this is what it would do if the environment were less cozy and a bit colder.

The data gathered by the researchers showed that indoor temperatures have increased from about 18 degrees Celsius in the late 70s to a bit over 19 degrees Celsius in 2008. These are temperatures registered in living rooms, while bedroom temperatures varied from 15 degrees to 18.5 degrees Celsius during the same period.

What does this mean? As I said above, our bodies get lazy. They get the heat they need for free, without having to work for it. Normally, the body should use the fat we ingest in order to produce energy and get warm. This also leads to calories being burnt. At the same time, by turning up the thermostat, we don’t feel the cold and we don’t shiver. Shivering stimulates the muscles in order to heat our organism.

So, what to do? Of course, the easiest and most obvious thing to do is lower the temperature in your home. In addition, you could also try taking walks during below zero mornings or afternoons. Take your body to the next level, stop pampering it!

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