Exercising in Heat Could Help you Eat Less

Most of us might be used to doing our exercise in our homes or in a gym with the air conditioning keeping the place cool, but if you’re looking to cut down on your calorie intake a change your diet, a run in the heat could help you out more.

The study was conducted in Australia and consisted of 11 physically active men. It found that people ate less after working out if they did their workout in hot conditions of around 36 Celsius than in more moderate 25 Celsius temperatures. There was an average difference of around 300 calories, which can make all the difference if you’re trying to lose weight.

During the study, the men ran on a treadmill for 40 minutes in 97 degree heat, and then again on a separate visit at 77 degrees. On a final visit, they simply rested in a reasonably warm room.

An all you can eat breakfast buffet was then offered to the men, who ate much more after the moderate conditions. The science behind the study? Hot workouts produce higher blood levels of peptide YY, which is a hormone that is produced by the digestive system that gives the brain the signal of the body being ‘full’.

An increase in overall body temperature due to both the room and the workout also meant that the men were less likely to eat. Some researchers have suggested that food intake is a natural mechanism for controlling body temperature as eating produces heat, so it’s the body’s way of trying to keep cool.

Researcher Dr. Kym Guelfi said:

Our findings suggest that if you exercise in a warmer environment you will eat less in the subsequent meal,” She was quick to note however that “exercise should not be performed in overly hot environments due to the risk of dehydration and heat illness”.