Does being cold really make you lose fat?

[ckuyook]

I read somewhere that staying in a cold environment will burn fat, but it sounds counter-intuitive. If I walk around naked in my apartment with no heat on for the duration of this entire winter, will I lose fat?

[5hadow12ogue]

Hmm...this is a good question. I always thought warmer climates would help you burn fat, or at least help you lose weight (could just be water weight though). I'm interested in seeing if anyone knows the answer to this...

[StrongMeat]

I dont know about climate

But cold showers after vigorous work supposedly raise testosterone slightly and reduce inflammation

-StrongMeat-

[Shepherd1125]

I would imagine if ur in cold weather, ur body is trying to produce as much heat as possible, thus causing thermogenic effect, and thus burns fat.

[MrDude1]

unfortunately, the effect while there, isnt measurable.
our bodies are very efficient at managing heat. its also efficient at creating it.
while your body will burn a little more calories, it will also constrict blood vessels, and reduce circulation to keep the body temp correct.... the extra it does burn is very small, as the body is efficient at creating heat... so all that happens is you feel cold and miserable... but not burn more energy.

[RobThompsonMMA]

Im guessing this hypothesis arose by saying that shivering would burn more calories. To maintain homeostasis, the body will start to keep extra fat deposits to try to keep you warmer instead of shivering to produce the heat. I would not recommend this because muscles contract when cooled and its an easy way to pull a ligament or tear a muscle. If anyone needs this translated just let me know.

[Electricheadd]

The optimal fat burning zone is just before hypothermia sets in...... IMHO you should take several ice baths a day while singing along to the Team America them song. America.... **** Yeah!

[RugbyTank]

Im guessing this hypothesis arose by saying that shivering would burn more calories. To maintain homeostasis, the body will start to keep extra fat deposits to try to keep you warmer instead of shivering to produce the heat. I would not recommend this because muscles contract when cooled and its an easy way to pull a ligament or tear a muscle. If anyone needs this translated just let me know.

lol , anyways;
Yes by being a colder environment your body has to strive to main is ~37 °C or 96–99 °F.
Equals more calories being burned

So for mental imaging, Body = furnace Coal(Fuel)=Food Adding more Coal to the fire = bigger fire = more heat = more smoke
For us the by product of more heat = sweat (hopefully anyways)

So hot or Cold your body will always sweat, sweating means your internal temperature is too hot whether from outside or inside forces are the cause.

That being said walking around naked in your apartment would work even though that's really a silly way of approaching weight loss. It may not be effective but the method would work in theory.
P.S.- In Before Hypothermia
P.S.S. - Goosebumps equals an increase in surface area to absorb more light energy/heat source

[PhiSig2298]

I read somewhere that staying in a cold environment will burn fat, but it sounds counter-intuitive. If I walk around naked in my apartment with no heat on for the duration of this entire winter, will I lose fat?

Important question: Are you a female?

[jsmoor09]

I would imagine if ur in cold weather, ur body is trying to produce as much heat as possible, thus causing thermogenic effect, and thus burns fat.

It's that simple.

[Th3velourfog]

tim ferriss wrote about this in 4 hr body I did a quick Google search about the subject because I didnt not remember the details. Ray Cronise and colleagues had noticed during their work with freezing/sub freezing temperatures that people lost weight with very little change in diet or activity. Im going to give a shot and see what happens fill the a bath up with cold water and then drop in 5 10 lbs of ice i figure I might last 5 min the first few times.
"Ray Cronise, an ex-NASA scientist who lost 30 pounds in six weeks by subjecting himself to low temperatures.
When popular diet plans failed, Ray Cronise, former NASA scientist and founder of Zero G Corp., says he found an extraordinary way to lose weight by tapping into the laws of thermodynamics: he was going to literally freeze his butt off, reports ABC news.
Cronise swears that by exposing his body to cold, in theory, he could increase his weekly weight loss. Our body temperature remains constant and it takes a lot of energy to keep it that way, no different than heating your house," He reports this techinque increased his weight loss to 30 pounds in just six weeks time."

[Pike717]

The answer is yes!! I sit motionless in the cold all day while hunting for 7- 10 days in row and I can pretty much eat whatever I like and weigh less when I get home than before I left for the trip.