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In winter, people often believe that due to cold the body becomes lethargic and weight starts increasing, but new scientific research proves this thinking completely wrong. Studies show that as soon as the temperature falls, the brown fat present within the body becomes active, which produces heat by burning energy and accelerates the metabolism.
In winter, people often feel that due to cold the body slows down and weight starts increasing, but recent scientific research shows the opposite to be true. New studies have found that as the temperature decreases, the brown fat or brown adipose tissue present within the body starts becoming active. This is the same special type of fat that uses energy to keep the body warm. That is, if brown fat becomes more active in cold weather, it can also help in reducing weight by burning extra calories.
According to a large study published in Frontiers in Physiology in 2022, when exposed to cold, the body spends more energy and the activity of brown fat increases. This research also revealed that living in mild cold temperature like 17-19 degrees can also increase the metabolic rate. This means that severe cold is not necessary for weight loss, mild or controlled cold can also be effective.
Similarly, the famous ‘Iceman Study’ presented at the Endocrine Society in 2014 shows that sleeping in mild cold environment for a few consecutive days not only increases the amount of brown fat but also increases its efficiency. The special thing is that during this process, improvement in insulin sensitivity was also seen, which plays an important role in weight control and reducing the risk of diabetes.
