Mes: agosto 2019

Researchers believe that rising indoor temperatures in the winter may be putting adults at higher risk of obesity. It is another example of how weather affects health — though, with an unusual twist, this one is about indoor weather. It’s about the thermostat. There are rising levels of obesity in the Western world, as we all know. Researchers decided to examine the link between less exposure to winter’s cold weather and increases in people’s weight. They did so in both the U.S. and UK. Their paper was published in the journal “Obesity Reviews.” Always being warm indoors means people have reduced exposure to cold. While that seems optimal, it actually may exert effects on one’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. First, it minimizes the need for energy expenditure to stay warm. Second, it reduces the body’s capacity to produce heat. The new study looked at all evidence that addressed higher winter indoor temperatures to see if less exposure to cold weather did impact energy balance and body weight. Winter indoor temperatures have risen over the last few decades. That includes higher temperatures in domestic settings. The higher expectations we have of heat-related comfort means that seasonal cold exposure is going down. And we spend more time exposed to milder temperatures. The study centers around brown fat in our bodies. Brown fat differs from white fat in that it...