It is that time of year when after weeks
of over-indulgence thoughts turn inexorably to self-improvement and self-denial. So I read with
delight a suggestion in the New
Scientist that turning down the thermostat might make you lose weight. Surely that’s a three for one deal that can’t
be missed? Lose weight, save money and
save the planet in one fell swoop!
The theory is that regular exposure to the
cold means you lay down brown fat and that when the temperature drops below 18oC,
you burn it to warm yourself up. A study of 1500 middle-aged
adults in Turin found a correlation between higher internal home temperatures
and obesity and that seems to be supported by laboratory studies which show
increased energy expenditure as the temperature drops.
Sadly, further reading suggests that this
might not be the quick fix that would make up for the 925 calories-a-slice
salted caramel chocolate torte I am planning for our Hogmanay dinner. There’s strong evidence that increased energy
expenditure at lower temperatures is offset by greater food consumption. And a much larger survey in the UK still found that higher internal temperatures were associated with lower BMI after controlling for demographic, health and
environmental variables.
It is looking like I might need to dust off my running shoes after all…
Nice post. And that cake looks good too :) Are you going to continue working on the Communal Kettle idea?
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was very tasty! I'm afraid there just aren't enough hours in the day for the community kettle - it is just too far out of my comfort zone for an MRes project.
ReplyDelete