Obesity and high temperatures caused in homes

Obesity and high temperatures caused in homes

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Increase average indoor temperature in winter could be a factor that contributed to the increase in obesity in developed countries, says a study published today in the journal Obesity Reviews.Reduce exposure to cold has two effects that may impair the ability to maintain a healthy weight: on the one hand reduces the body need to consume energy to keep warm, and on the other hand reduces this reason the body's ability to produce heat.The study cites data showing that average winter temperature in homes and other enclosed areas increased over time in the U.S., UK and other developed countries. Increased expectations of thermal comfort leading to reduced exposure to cold in winter and exposure to temperatures comfortable for longer.The researchers found that brown adipose tissue (brown fat) that can consume energy to generate heat, is a small part of a person's total body fat at the expense of "white fat", which has the ability to consume energy heat. Long-term exposure to low temperatures diminished lead to a reduction in the weight of brown adipose tissue, affecting weight and obesity."Research on the environmental factors that influence obesity at the expense of genetic, focused on diet and physical activity, which are clearly the main environmental factors affecting obesity rates. Nevertheless, it is possible that other environmental factors, and temperatures to which humans are exposed in winter to increase obesity rates. Such research should lead to new strategies to combat this epidemic public, "said Dr. Fiona Johnson, member of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health UCL University who led the study.Marcella Ucci, co-author of the study, added: "The results of this research indicate that reducing indoor temperature in winter could contribute both to lower obesity rates and to reduce carbon emissions."