Cold exposure increases the body's caloric expenditure to maintain a temperature of 37°C, but this surplus remains too minimal on a daily basis to replace physical activity or induce significant weight loss.

noli's read

Marine Lorphelin presents a very balanced perspective: cold does indeed increase energy expenditure to maintain our internal temperature, but its real impact on weight management remains minimal. Research validates this dual mechanism of shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis, the latter activating our brown fat reserves to produce heat. A fundamental clinical study led by researcher Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt in the New England Journal of Medicine (experimental evidence) demonstrated this metabolic activation in humans exposed to cold. Nevertheless, a literature review published in Frontiers in Endocrinology confirms that the caloric surplus generated remains modest, often ranging between 50 and 200 calories per day depending on the duration and intensity of the exposure. Furthermore, clinical trials indicate that this slight spike in expenditure is frequently offset by a natural increase in appetite. The creator's message is therefore perfectly aligned with science: cold is an interesting metabolic stimulant, but it does not replace daily movement.

the sources

1. 1van Marken Lichtenbelt WD, Vanhommerig JW, Smulders NM, et al. 2009
2. 2Ouellet V, Labbé SM, Blondin DP, et al. 2012
3. 3Hanssen MJW, Hoeks J, Brans B, et al. 2015