Will you gain weight easily if you wear light clothes when it’s cold?

As the weather turns cooler, it is time to prepare for autumn clothes and trousers, but there are a group of people who insist on wearing light clothes, even if they are shivering in the cold wind, in order to avoid being bloated. There are even many women who love beauty, even in the winter with sub-zero temperatures, do not forget to wear short skirts and stockings to show their youth and vitality.

However, there are some rumors online saying that "low temperatures can lead to fat accumulation, and the less you wear, the easier it is to gain weight", and even that "the more you expose your legs in the cold weather, the fatter and thicker they will become". This has scared the majority of fashionistas who "prefer style over temperature"!

Here, let’s first tell you the conclusion of scientific rumor refutation: Don’t panic, this statement is a kind of “taken for granted” and wrong argument.

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01

In low temperature environment

Fat will burn faster

First of all, in a low temperature environment, it will stimulate the body's metabolic rate to increase, including fat metabolism. In order to resist the loss of skin temperature, the body will accelerate the metabolic rate and increase energy supply. The main source is to burn sugar and release more energy.

Of course, being in a cold state for a long time and having sufficient energy supply will indeed promote fat synthesis. However, this does not mean that the decomposition rate will decrease. When the body exercises a lot or needs a lot of fat, and the energy supply from carbohydrate decomposition cannot meet the demand, fat will also be decomposed to provide energy, which is called "fat mobilization." Therefore, fat metabolism may not slow down in the cold winter.

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02

Where does fat choose to settle?

It has nothing to do with the temperature but the amount of exercise

Secondly, fat itself is not as smart as we think, and it will not go to where it is cold. There is a pattern in the distribution of fat in the body. Generally speaking, the places where fat is most likely to be deposited are the places with the least activity. For example, men's stomachs are most likely to develop a "beer belly", while women's buttocks and breasts have the most fat deposits.

Of course, there is another place where fat deposits are more hidden, that is visceral fat, such as the liver and mesentery. If the rumor goes, "fat is very smart and goes wherever it's cold," is it only our big belly that is afraid of the cold? Don't forget that it is often the most tightly wrapped part. Besides, the part of the body that is most afraid of the cold is actually the joints, but have you ever seen anyone with "fat" all over their knees?

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03

The fundamental factor that determines weight

It is the supply and consumption of energy

The human body does not completely adjust the thickness of subcutaneous fat according to the external environment. Although people living in cold regions are generally fatter than those living in tropical regions, this is indeed the result of the body's self-protection awareness during the natural evolution process. However, the fundamental factor that determines the thickness of subcutaneous fat is the ratio of energy supply and consumption . In other words, when intake is greater than consumption, fat will increase, and vice versa.

Of course, ambient temperature does affect energy metabolism in the body, but it is only one of many factors. In other words, if we eat all we can in winter and don’t exercise, we will gain weight no matter how much we wear. However, if we eat a balanced diet and exercise appropriately, the temperature will not affect our figure. More importantly, no one will be in a cold state for a long time, especially nowadays, short-term low temperatures outdoors will not have a substantial impact on body fat distribution.

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04

Demeanor is beautiful

Don't sacrifice your health

Although wearing thin clothes in cold weather will not make us grow fat legs, it will also affect our health. Some people say that young people have strong internal energy and are able to withstand the cold, but in fact, that is only due to their high metabolic rate, which also poses health risks. Moreover, the cold will still irritate the body, especially the bones and joints, causing discomfort. If you do not pay attention to keeping your legs and feet warm, it will also increase the risk of urinary system diseases .

Some young people wear thin clothes and use hot packs on their knees and abdomen to keep warm, hoping to reduce the stimulation caused by the cold. Here we remind everyone to pay attention to the use method and not to rely too much on it. High temperature contact or long-term low temperature contact will affect the skin, gradually develop into burns in the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissues, and make the skin dry and itchy, leading to skin allergies and inducing dermatitis. Once you are affected, the loss outweighs the gain.

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The world is beautiful because of its rich diversity. There are flowers in spring, moon in autumn, cool breeze in summer and snow in winter. In the warm June and July, we wear flowing dresses. In the cold winter, we experience the protection of warm cotton clothes. It is also a blessing in life. Fashion and taste do not need to be gritted and insisted. Keeping warm in winter is very important. Wearing clothes that fit the season can also become a beautiful scenery in the snowy winter.

Author: Zhang Yu, Associate Researcher, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Review | Gao Chao, Associate Researcher, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

This article is produced by the "Science Rumor Refutation Platform" (ID: Science_Facts). Please indicate the source when reprinting.

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