Is it easy to gain weight if you travel light in cold weather? You should choose style over temperature, but there are some health risks →

Author: Zhang Yu, researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, supervisor of medical doctorate and master's degree students

Reviewer: Gao Chao, Associate Researcher, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

gossip

As the weather turns cooler, it's time to put on autumn clothes and autumn trousers, but there is a group of people who insist on wearing light clothes. Even when they are shivering in the cold wind, they still "dress lightly" to avoid looking bloated.

However, there are some rumors online saying that " low temperatures can lead to fat accumulation, and the less you wear, the easier it is to gain weight ", and even that " the more you expose your legs in the cold weather, the fatter and thicker they will become ". This has scared the majority of fashionistas who "prefer style over temperature"!

Is this really the case?

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

analyze

Let me tell you the conclusion first: don’t panic, this statement is a wrong argument of “taking it for granted”.

Fat burns faster in a low temperature environment

First of all, in a low temperature environment, it will stimulate the body's metabolic rate to increase, including fat metabolism. In order to resist the loss of skin temperature, the body will accelerate the metabolic rate and increase energy supply. The main source is to burn sugar and release more energy.

Of course, being in a cold state for a long time and having sufficient energy supply will indeed promote fat synthesis. However, this does not mean that the decomposition rate will decrease. When the body exercises a lot or needs a lot of fat, and the energy supply from carbohydrate decomposition cannot meet the demand, fat will also be decomposed to provide energy, which is called " fat mobilization ." Therefore, fat metabolism may not slow down in the cold winter.

Where fat settles has nothing to do with heat or cold, but depends on the amount of exercise

Secondly, fat itself is not as smart as we think, and it will not go to where it is cold. There is a pattern in the distribution of fat in the body. Generally speaking, the places where fat is most likely to be deposited are the places with the least activity. For example, men's stomachs are most likely to develop a "beer belly", while women's buttocks and breasts have the most fat deposits.

Of course, there is another place where fat deposits are more hidden, that is visceral fat, such as the liver and mesentery. If the rumor goes, "fat is very smart and goes wherever it's cold," is it only our big belly that is afraid of the cold? Don't forget that it is often the most tightly wrapped part. Besides, the part of the body that is most afraid of the cold is actually the joints, but have you ever seen anyone with "fat" all over their knees?

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

The fundamental factor that determines whether you are fat or thin is the supply and consumption of energy.

The human body does not completely adjust the thickness of subcutaneous fat according to the external environment. Although people living in cold regions are generally fatter than those living in tropical regions, this is indeed the result of the body's self-protection awareness during the natural evolution process. However, the fundamental factor that determines the thickness of subcutaneous fat is the ratio of energy supply and consumption. In other words, when intake is greater than consumption, fat will increase, and vice versa.

Of course, ambient temperature does affect energy metabolism in the body, but it is only one of many factors. In other words, if we eat all we can in winter and don’t exercise, we will gain weight no matter how much we wear. However, if we eat a balanced diet and exercise appropriately, the temperature will not affect our figure. More importantly, no one will be in a cold state for a long time, especially nowadays, short-term low temperatures outdoors will not have a substantial impact on body fat distribution.

Being graceful is nice , but don't sacrifice your health

Some people say that young people have a strong firepower and are able to withstand severe cold weather. In fact, that is only due to their high metabolic rate, which also poses health risks. Moreover, the cold weather can still irritate the body, especially the bones and joints, causing discomfort. If you do not pay attention to keeping your legs and feet warm, it can also increase the risk of urinary system diseases.

Some young people wear thin clothes and use hot packs on their knees and abdomen to keep warm, hoping to reduce the stimulation caused by the cold. Here we remind everyone to pay attention to the use method and not to rely too much on it. High temperature contact or long-term low temperature contact will affect the skin, gradually develop into burns in the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissues, and make the skin dry and itchy, leading to skin allergies and inducing dermatitis. Once you are affected, the loss outweighs the gain.

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

in conclusion

Although wearing thin clothes in cold weather will not make us fat, fat itself is not as smart as we think, and will not go to where it is cold. However, wearing thin clothes in cold weather will irritate the body, especially the bones and joints, and affect our health.

Fashion and taste do not require perseverance. Keeping warm in winter is very important. Wearing clothes that fit the season well can also become a beautiful scenery in the snowy winter.