The Surprising Relationship Between Body Temperature and Obesity
Reduced ability to maintain body temperature in colder environments can contribute to the development of weight gain and obesity in
adulthood, suggests a study published in J Neurosci. Energy from food
fuels the maintenance of your body temperature by generating and
conserving heat. Nearly half of the human energy produced in a typical
life is used to maintain a body temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius.
Since 1980, obesity has been one of the world's biggest epidemics with
about 1.9 billion people being overweight, and 15% of those living with
severe forms of obesity such as the 'morbid' category. Obesity is linked
to body temperature regarding how the body consumes the stored fat when
exposed to cold temperatures.
Obesity and its dangers
Gaining
a few pounds over the cause of a year may not seem alarming, but over
time, it may add up uncontrollably, eventually causing obesity. This
condition increases the risk of many health problems including
cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and stroke.
Moreso, gaining excess weight during pregnancy may
facilitate short and long-term health problems for you and your child.
While determining what level of weight gain is safe can be a bit hard,
body mass index(BMI) score and your waist size could help give insight.
For instance, BMI measures your weight relative to your height and
provides a score with categorizing you as being normal weight,
overweight or obese.
Obesity is linked to body temperature
Alfonso
Raimundez of the University of Santiago and his team found an
astonishing link between obesity and body temperature. They achieved
this by examining mice whereby the TRPM8 gene which is responsible for
the body's reaction to cold was damaged. Destroying this gene strangely
affected the appetite of mice and how their bodies used fat deposits
when exposed to low temperatures. Also, the mice developed significant
insomnia which rapidly led to weight gain. During the study, there was
an exciting twist whereby obesity developed only after the mice were 6
months old, which corresponds to late adolescence in humans. The study's
results insinuated that body temperature is related to obesity and that
type 2 diabetes can similarly develop in persons who have mutations in
the TRPM8 gene.
Helping your body regulate body temperature
To maintain a consistent temperature,
the human body requires certain nutrients, including water and
magnesium. The evaporation of sweat from your skin helps to cool the
body during exercise or hot weather. Men should take about 13 cups of
fluids in a day and 9 for women, as recommended by the Institute of
Medicine. Similarly, magnesium which is the 4th most abundant mineral in
the body plays a vital role in various body functions such as energy
metabolism, blood sugar, and pressure regulation,
and most importantly, regulating body temperature. Some of the most
available sources of magnesium include almonds, soybeans, cashews.
spinach, avocados, and oatmeal. Its recommended intake varies according
to age and gender, as noted by the National Institute of Health Office
of Dietary Supplements.
If
you are overweight, losing as little as 5% of your weight actively
lowers the risk of contracting several diseases. To facilitate loss, you
should get at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity and remain active
for about 300 minutes a week, according to Federal Guidelines of
Physical Activity. While exercise is considered the most basic way to
keep fit, you cannot forego the advantages of keeping your body
temperature in check. To assist your body in maintaining the correct
body heat, whether you are exercising or not, be sure to consume water
and foods that are rich in magnesium.
