Summer is in full swing, and some parts of the U.S. have already experienced record-high temperatures.
Exposure to extreme heat – the leading cause of weather-related deaths – can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and added strain on the heart and kidneys, exacerbating underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease and respiratory illnesses. But extreme heat can also have a more subtle effect on the body, influencing how much and what people want to eat. In short, as temperatures rise, appetites may drop.
Researchers say there's a reason for that. High temperatures, low appetites Digesting food and storing its nutrients uses energy, which generates heat, said Dr. Allison Childress, a registered dietitian nutritionist and an associate professor of practice in the nutritional sciences department at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
"There are definite differences in calorie intake in cold weather versus hot," she said. "A calorie is a measure of heat. In a cold environment, you need to burn calories to create heat in the body.
People in a hot or warm environment don't eat as many calories because it heats the body up." While the mechanisms linking temperature and appetite aren't fully understood, animal research suggests that higher ambient temperatures may lower the production of the gut hormone ghrelin, which stimulates hunger in the brain, said Dr. Gordon Fisher, a kinesiology professor and assistant dean for research in the School of Education and Human Science.
