- Research shows that cold weather may result in more calories burned than warm days.
- An exercise scientist says it might not be a good strategy for burning fat.
- The chill can cause a shift in hormones that control appetite and lead to you eating more.
Research suggests that if you have ever run a cold morning jog or done a post-feast walk in the snow, you might have burnt more calories than you would on warm days.
A cold-weather workout can still be a great way to lose fat. The cold can slow fat oxidization, leading you to burn less of it than you would in warmer workouts, according to Dr. Alexander Koch, professor of exercise science at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Insider was also told that the chill can stimulate hormones that increase appetite.
The end result is that you can certainly enjoy cold-weather running and winter sports as part of a fitness routine, but braving a wintery workout won’t necessarily help you burn fat or
lose weight
.
While cold weather exercise can burn more calories but result in less fat loss, it may lead to a greater increase in metabolism.
Cold weather may increase the calorie-burning power and endurance of exercise. It takes energy to keep your body warm as well as to power the exercise. Shivering is one example of your body’s adaptation to cold environments by using movement to heat.
A Study of Wyoming hikersIt was found that those who exercise in temperatures between 15 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 degrees Celsius burned 30% more calories than those who trekked when it was warmer.
But, this extra calorie burn won’t last long. Exercise generates lots of heat, especially if you’re dressed up. This means that you won’t need to shiver as much or exert more effort in order to stay warm.
Some research suggests that there is a tradeoff to using more energy in the cold. You may burn less fat.
One Study of a small samplefound that men who cycled in temperatures between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit burned more fat than when they performed the same exercise at -4 degrees Fahrenheit.
“This is likely due to vasoconstriction that occurs to conserve heat, lowering the rate of uptake of fatty acids into exercise muscle,” Koch said.
In other words, colder conditions cause the blood vessels in the body to contract or shrink. This limits the body’s ability and capacity to absorb fat and transport the resulting acids to the muscles to provide energy.
A winter jog will likely make you feel hungry more than in warmer temperatures.
Koch explained that although exercising in the cold can burn more calories, it will not make you lose more calories.
A 2017 review study found that exercising in weather below 32 degree Fahrenheit seemed to trigger a shift in hormones that control appetite. Study participants consumed between 44-84% more calories when exercising in cold conditions than those who exercised in warm environments or just rested.
To avoid injury or irritation of the lungs, chilly workouts require a longer warm up
Koch stated that while exercising in cold temperatures can be very healthy, it is important to get warm to minimize injury.
“A warm up for exercise literally raises the body temperature which enhances mobility around joints and increases muscles’ ability to extract oxygen from the blood,”He said.
You’ll be able to breathe easier while you exercise, as an inhalation of cold, dry, and sudden air can cause irritation.