A new study, published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, studied the effects of cold exposure on energy expenditure.  Researchers noted that the primary focus for public health officials seeking to combat the growing epidemic of obesity is to reduce excessive energy intake.  However, the study begins with the premise that bodies working to regulate temperature can be beneficial for weight loss.  The study finds that exposure to mild cold can significantly affect energy expenditure over a sustained period of time, benefitting weight loss efforts.

Obesity is a consequence of positive energy balance, which can be counterbalanced by eating less, increasing physical activity, or pharmacological approaches.  However, researchers contend that weight maintenance is generally disappointing, and long-term use of pharmaceuticals has been limited because of lack of efficacy, poor long-term adherence rates, and serious adverse effects.  The journal article suggests regular exposure to mild cold may provide a healthy and sustainable alternative strategy for increasing energy expenditure.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the study found that the body goes through thermogenesis to regulate temperature.  By producing heat, the body is burning more calories.  Even though food consumption was increased by those exposed to cold, the energy burned by thermogenesis outweighed calories consumed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese.  Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.  The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.  By state, obesity prevalence ranged from 20.5% in Colorado to 34.7% in Louisiana in 2012. No state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Nine states and the District of Columbia had prevalence between 20-25%. Thirteen states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 30%.

Concerns about obesity have led some lawmakers to search for a way to legally force people into healthier decisions.  A controversial attempt to do so was a ban on larger sized sugar sweetened beverages at certain establishments in New York State.  There is some merit to these attempts and a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrates that.  However, as the new study points out, there may be some alternative behavior changes that do not require dietary overhauls.