It is well known that humans expend body energy to keep warm. Research by a Dutch team examines how this seemingly obvious notion applies to the body in indoor living environment.
A research paper cited several studies that allowing the indoor temperature to drift with outdoor temperature can be beneficial to weight control. For example, lowering the indoor temperature in winter gives the body the opportunity to burn more fat off. Since people spend 90% of time indoors, this correlation can pay handsome dividends.
One study found significant lowering of body fat content following a 6-week, 2-hour/day 63-degree F cold acclimation. And don’t worry about feeling cold. The body gets accustomed to the lower ambient temperature. During the team’s research, they observed that shivering (which is a means for the body to generate more heat) and thermal discomfort decreased during a 10-day, 6-hour/day 57-degree F acclimation period.
What a concept! Getting paid to lose weight! Just lift a finger to lower the thermostat. Who can resist this approach!
The research conclusion is: “Maximal thermal comfort in the built environment may increase our susceptibility to obesity and related disorders, and in parallel requires high energy use in buildings. Mild cold exposure increases body energy expenditure without shivering and without compromising our precious comfort. Hence, rethinking our indoor climate by allowing ambient temperatures to drift may protect both health and bank account.”
See the complete article in the Journal Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.
