When the thermometer rises usually our appetite is reduced. In fact, they opt for lighter meals, salads, gazpachos or other cold creams, leaving the heartier stews for other, cooler months.
This occurs because, with heat, the body saves energy and decreases the need for caloric intake.
But despite the fact that we are usually less hungry, it is very common to end the summer with a few extra kilos. Why is this happening?
Well, the explanation from the scientific point of view, the cold helps to lose weight, while with the heat the fatty layer acts as a thermal insulator. And this can cause many problems.
Body fat as a temperature regulator
In this regard, Dr. Susana Monereo, member of and head of the , explains that “body fat is an important temperature regulator. Therefore, when the external temperature is low, that is, it is cold, subcutaneous fat insulates us thermally and protects us from the cold.
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“In addition, a physiological process occurs in the fat cells themselves called “browning or Browning”, points out this expert.
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This process allows “fat to be metabolically activated, that is, burns own fat to generate heat and maintain body temperature.
However, in the summer time and at high ambient temperatures the physiological process of “browning or browning” does not occur.
So “instead of spending calories we save them and it is easier to gain weight”, points out this expert.
With each degree more, obesity increases by 0.29%
In fact, “according to a study published in 2017 by Dutch researchers, for each degree of increase in environmental temperature there was a 0.29% increase in obesity and 0.3% of ”, adds Dr. Monereo.
In any case, “we must not forget that relaxation, reduced physical activity or excess food intake due to family celebrations or with friends, typical of these dates, also influences weight gain.
It is clear, therefore, that, due to the high temperatures, we all run the risk of gaining a few extra kilos.
But, in addition, there are studies, such as the one published by the Biomedical Research Center on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases Network (CIBERDEM) in 2014, which suggest that changes in ambient temperature, which with the climate change are becoming more common, they can potentially modify the risk of obesity of a certain population.
In hot regions one in three people lives with obesity
Specifically, in our country there has been a higher prevalence of obesity in regions with higher temperatures.
so, in zones between 17.8 and 21.3 Cº, one in three people lives with obesitywhile in places with temperatures between 10.4 and 14.5 Cº one in four do so.
In the words of Dr. Monereo, “knowing and consider the effects of ambient temperature on the metabolism of adipose tissue, in addition to factors directly related to obesity, such as intake, caloric expenditure or sports practice, is essential to ensure a comprehensive approach to this disease.
More prone to heat stroke
Along with children and the elderly, people who are obese or overweight are especially vulnerable to high temperatures.
As Dr. Monereo indicates, “Obese people, having a greater insulating layer of fat, need to sweat much more to dissipate heat.”
In other words, it costs them more to cool down, cool down, and that makes them people prone to suffering and pictures of hyperthermia associated with exercise.
However, “the most relevant consequence is dehydration, especially when drugs such as diuretics are taken, in addition to the difficulty in exercising due to the same risk of associated hyperthermia.”
Expert Recommendations
For his part, Federico Luis Moya, member of OPEN Spain and executive director of the Híspalis Nacional Bariatric Association, Association of Bariatric Patients and Obesity (ABH), insists that “obesity and heat are a bad combination, so we should not You have to let your guard down.”
To try to minimize the risks of high temperatures, it is important that the obese or overweight person follow some specific recommendations such as:
- Reduce the intake of hot products and take cold products.
- Avoid exposing yourself to the sun as much as possible and at high temperatures.
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Do exercise in the early hours of the day (before it gets too hot).
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Carry light clothing that breathes well and that is not dark.
- Hydration continues since having a large body surface area obese people lose more water.
In addition, at a time of year when insecurities about body image increase, Federico Luis Moya warns that “there is still a lot of social stigmatization since obesity is thought to be a chosen lifestyle, when it is not. To avoid this we need to offer rigorous information to society about obesity”.