Shiver in the Cold and Burn Fat The Surprising Science of Freezing Weight Loss
When temperatures drop, the body burns more calories to maintain its core temperature, a process scientists call thermogenesis. Our bodies host two kinds of fat: white fat and brown fat. White fat is known as "bad fat" because it accumulates when we consume more calories than we burn. Too much can lead to weight gain and significantly raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Conversely, brown fat is known as "good fat," as it provides the body with a fuel source for energy and helps regulate metabolism. Lean people tend to have more brown fat than those who are overweight, and scientists are continually seeking ways to stimulate the metabolization of white fat stores into burnable brown fat. A key way to promote browning is through exposure to cold temperatures. A 2012 study demonstrated that brown adipose tissue in adult humans is actually metabolically highly active when it is stimulated physiologically, that is, when human brown fat is on fire. Shivering can activate brown fat to burn calories and generate heat. According to researchers, 15 minutes of shivering in a cold environment is the physiological equivalent of moderate exercise for one hour.
In This Article:
White Fat vs Brown Fat The Body's Fat Divide
White fat is known as "bad fat" because it accumulates when we consume more calories than we burn. Too much white fat can lead to weight gain and significantly raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Brown fat is known as "good fat," as it provides the body with a fuel source for energy and helps regulate metabolism. Lean people tend to have more brown fat than overweight individuals, and scientists are ever on the hunt for ways to stimulate the metabolization of white fat stores into burnable brown fat.
Cold Exposure Browning of White Fat
A key way to promote browning is through exposure to cold temperatures. The authors of a 2012 study demonstrated that brown adipose tissue in adult humans is actually metabolically highly active when it is stimulated physiologically, that is, when human brown fat is on fire. Shivering can activate brown fat to burn calories and generate heat.
Shivering and Brown Fat Burn The Irisin Link
A bona fide body bonfire, if you will. Shivering can activate brown fat to burn calories and generate heat. A 2014 study in the journal Cell Metabolism reported that shivering stimulates the secretion of the hormone irisin, which induces fat burning.
Cryotherapy and Ice Vests Quick Cold Therapies
Cryotherapy, which involves standing in a freezing chamber for a few minutes to super-cool the body, has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels while also reducing waistline measurements. Other shiver-forward treatments include wearing a vest laden with ice packs, which is said to aid the chill-curious in burning up to 250 kcal per hour.
Cold Hiking Burns More Calories 34% More, But Why
And a 2017 study found that people who hiked in 15–23°C temperatures burned 34% more calories than those who hiked in 10°C — but not for the reasons that you think. The study’s lead author, Dr. Cara Ocobock, admitted that the extra calorie loss had more to do with external factors such as moving through snow. "What do you think? Post a comment."
Warm-Up Before Shivering How to Stop the Cold Response
"When you start exercising, your muscles produce heat, which keeps you warm if the outside temperature is cold," she told The Post at the time. In other words, a proper warm-up stops the body’s shivering response. That makes you less likely to feel the brrrn.
