There is a common myth that people tend to gain more weight in the winter. Turns out, it’s no myth-colder weather and shorter days do cause people to eat more and exercise less. “It’s almost instinctual to eat more,” said Mary Ellen Wargo, Plymouth State University’s Wellness Center Coordinator. Animals eat more as the weather gets colder because an extra layer of fat keeps them warm, but this lifestyle isn’t as healthy for humans. Since people have heated buildings and warm clothing to survive in the winter months, it’s not necessary to put on those extra pounds.
According to Wargo, gaining a little extra weight in the winter does not become a health problem unless it cannot be lost in the following spring and summer. A study conducted by WebMD.com suggests that both extreme cold and extreme heat causes weight gain. This is because both types of weather cause people to become innactive. According to this study, temperatures conducive to exercise range from 25-85 degrees.
“A drop in body temperature stimulates the appetite and you experience hunger,” Nancy Clark, a nutrition consultant of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, stated in her article, “Winter and Nutrition: Fueling for Cold Weather Exercise.” The digestion of food produces a warming effect, so 30 minutes to an hour after eating, the human body creates close to ten percent more heat than it did before.
Another reason people gain weight is related to their mood. Cold weather drives people indoors and the lack of sun light can cause depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). When people are depressed, they tend to eat more and exercise less. The National Mental Health Association’s website listed excessive eating, sleeping, and weight gain as a symptom of SAD. For students who suspect the weather may be affecting their mood, spending a little more time outdoors in the sunlight could help. The Wellness Center offers a full spectrum light that students can sit under, which will reduce the effects of depression caused by SAD.
Students who wish to maintain a healthy weight during the colder months can counter the gain by becoming more conscious of their diet and exercise. “Balance is the key to maintaining a healthy weight,” said Wargo. Good nutrition means eating a range of foods containing protein, carbohydrates and fiber and minimizing the amount of fatty foods. Wargo pointed out that it is not good to ignore a food craving because if a person is craving something, it means their body requires nutrients from those foods. If they ignore their craving, they will deprive themselves of valuable nutrients. If a person is craving their favorite snack, they should have a handful or two but be cautious to not eat the whole bag.
A change in weather can also affect a person’s exercise routine. According to Clark, while the initial few minutes of outdoor exercise might feel cold, as a persons heart rate increases, the environment inside their exercise outfit becomes almost tropical. To help make winter exercise more available to students, PSU’s Recreation Programs at the Fitness Center offers both skis and snowshoes for rent. For those students not wanting to put up with the cold, they can exercise in pleasant temperatures in the Courtroom or the Fitness room of the HUB. Students living in Langdon Woods, who currently have an unfinished fitness room will soon be able to exercise close to home; Blair has an fitness room as well.
For more information about eating right and staying in shape, stop by the Wellness Center located in the HUB or talk to the School’s Nutritionist in Prospect Dining Hall.