Worried about winter weight
gain? Colder temperatures
and more time indoors can
provide a good excuse to eat more
and move less, with the potential
to add a few kilos during the
season. If you have a history
of gaining weight at this time of
year, the good news is there are
things you can do to avoid it.
Before we talk about how,
though, it can help to understand
the reasons why we might gain
weight during the colder months.
- We move less. Unless you’re
an avid skier and migrate to the
snow come winter, chances are
you’ll be moving less once the
temperature drops.
Not only are the days shorter,
colder weather also makes it
easier to hit the snooze button in
the morning, rather than heading
to the gym, and to curl up in front
of the heater with a good book or
movie after work rather than
heading out for a walk.
Even incidental activities such
as gardening, mowing the lawn
and spring cleaning tend to
happen less in the colder months. - We eat more. The cooler
weather can increase appetite,
and spending more time indoors
provides more opportunities
to eat.
Winter food is often
heavier and higher in
energy than lighter
summer fruits and salads,
and this can lead to weight
gain, particularly in combination
with being less active.- We crave carbs. Levels
of the feel-good hormone
serotonin – which
affects our mood,
energy levels and
appetite – fall
during winter.
Interestingly, researchers have
shown that levels of serotonin
transporters (which remove
serotonin) in the brain are higher
in winter than summer, which
can explain why some people
experience depression or a low
mood at this time of the year.
Eating carbs increases serotonin
levels, so carb cravings are a way
of our body trying to boost
serotonin levels and make us
feel better. Carb cravings are one
of the symptoms of Seasonal
Affective Disorder (aka SAD),
although this condition isn’t
common in Australia due to
our mild winters.- We get sick.
While illness isn’t
confined to winter, colds
and flu are more likely
to strike at this time
of the year, mainly
due to the fact we
spend more time
inside and in close
contact with others.
Being unwell can
make it harder to exercise
and eat well, and can disrupt
the good habits we might
have built up during the
warmer months.
- We get sick.
- We keep (too) warm.
Some researchers have suggested
that our obsession with indoor
heating and avoiding the cold
could be playing a part in the
obesity epidemic.
While you might think
getting hot and sweaty burns
more calories, it actually takes
more energy for your body to
warm up than cool down.
We’re not suggesting you freeze
on those cold winter days, but
turning down your heating will
not only save money and the
environment, it might also be
good for your waistline!