With winter it is common to put aside the practice of exercises and increase food intake. Among the reasons are some typical beliefs of that time. Do we need to eat more to keep the body warm? Do we not need to train so much, since the metabolism is more accelerated in the cold?
To really understand what happens to our bodies in the winter, Dr. Claudia Chang, specialist in Endocrinology and Metabology at USP and member of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM), mentions the 4 main myths and truths about weight loss or gain during this season.
Mito: People put on weight in the winter because they feel hungrier. As temperatures drop, the body needs more energy to generate heat and maintain an adequate body temperature. It makes us feel more hungry. However, the extra energy we ingest is used to produce heat. The problem arises when we consume more food than necessary to meet the body’s needs.
“At this time of year, people tend to spend more time at home, as not everyone likes to face the cold outside. Staying at home for a long time makes it easier to access food (and we usually opt for more caloric ones, such as cookies, chocolate or bread). In addition, if there is an associated emotional disorder, such as anxiety or depression, it may be more difficult to control eating and the person ends up taking it out on food”, explains Claudia Chang.
True: The body needs more food in winter. Food works as fuel for the production of heat in our body. Therefore, the need to feed increases to maintain body temperature.
According to the endocrinologist, animal studies show that there is an increase in food intake when they are exposed to low temperatures. “However, this increase in food intake is accompanied by an increase in basal metabolic rate, which is the energy the body expends at rest. It maintains a balance and does not lead to weight gain.”
True: Winter is an excellent time to lose weight. During this period, metabolism accelerates, as the body needs to generate more heat. This process activates mechanisms that stimulate the burning of accumulated fat, which can increase caloric burning by up to 10%. However, for this to happen, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet and not overdo it with fondues and hot chocolate.
Mito: We can train less in the winter, as the cold speeds up the metabolism. “With an accelerated metabolism, the practice of physical activity will bring more results for weight loss. Furthermore, we must not forget that exercising the body is not only for aesthetics, but also for physical and mental health, and, consequently, for a good quality of life”, concludes Claudia Chang.
With winter it is common to put aside the practice of exercises and increase food intake. Among the reasons are some typical beliefs of that time. Do we need to eat more to keep the body warm? Do we not need to train so much, since the metabolism is more accelerated in the cold?
To really understand what happens to our bodies in the winter, Dr. Claudia Chang, specialist in Endocrinology and Metabology at USP and member of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM), mentions the 4 main myths and truths about weight loss or gain during this season.
Mito: People put on weight in the winter because they feel hungrier. As temperatures drop, the body needs more energy to generate heat and maintain an adequate body temperature. It makes us feel more hungry. However, the extra energy we ingest is used to produce heat. The problem arises when we consume more food than necessary to meet the body’s needs.
“At this time of year, people tend to spend more time at home, as not everyone likes to face the cold outside. Staying at home for a long time makes it easier to access food (and we usually opt for more caloric ones, such as cookies, chocolate or bread). In addition, if there is an associated emotional disorder, such as anxiety or depression, it may be more difficult to control eating and the person ends up taking it out on food”, explains Claudia Chang.
True: The body needs more food in winter. Food works as fuel for the production of heat in our body. Therefore, the need to feed increases to maintain body temperature.
According to the endocrinologist, animal studies show that there is an increase in food intake when they are exposed to low temperatures. “However, this increase in food intake is accompanied by an increase in basal metabolic rate, which is the energy the body expends at rest. It maintains a balance and does not lead to weight gain.”
True: Winter is an excellent time to lose weight. During this period, metabolism accelerates, as the body needs to generate more heat. This process activates mechanisms that stimulate the burning of accumulated fat, which can increase caloric burning by up to 10%. However, for this to happen, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet and not overdo it with fondues and hot chocolate.
Mito: We can train less in the winter, as the cold speeds up the metabolism. “With an accelerated metabolism, the practice of physical activity will bring more results for weight loss. Furthermore, we must not forget that exercising the body is not only for aesthetics, but also for physical and mental health, and, consequently, for a good quality of life”, concludes Claudia Chang.
