Shorter days and less sunlight may seem like a great excuse to wrap yourself in cozy blankets, indulge in decadent treats, and spend more time hanging out on your couch than at the gym. You may be blaming these chilly weather habits on your recent weight gain, but there’s actually a more scientific reason for why your clothes aren’t fitting like they used to. A new study shows that spending less time in the sun can negatively impact your weight!
This recent study (conducted by researchers at the University Of Alberta and published in the Nature journal) found that fat cells located just under the skin shrink when they’re exposed to blue light from the sun. When your body is deprived of this natural blue light, it begins to store more fat cells to keep your body warm!
In a press release, senior study author, Peter Light, PhD stated, “When the sun’s blue light wavelengths—the light we can see with our eye—penetrate our skin and reach the fat cells just beneath, lipid droplets reduce in size and are released out of the cell. In other words, our cells don’t store as much fat.” He continues, “If you flip our findings around, the insufficient sunlight exposure we get eight months of the year living in a northern climate may be promoting fat storage and contribute to the typical weight gain some of us have over winter.”
This new study sheds light on the frustrating issue of gaining weight during the colder months, however, it’s important to remember that prolonged periods of time in the sun may cause more harm than good. There isn’t enough research to support how effective spending more time in the sun is when it comes to staying trim, and prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. You may not want to expose yourself to the harmful rays of the sun, but this study could give rise to medications or light therapies that will help you reap the weight loss benefits of getting more sunshine!
This study also serves as an important reminder of how important it is to get adequate amounts of sunlight. Sunlight is a natural source of Vitamin D and Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium. Our bodies need calcium to build strong bones and boost our immunity to keep us healthy. It’s much easier get good amounts of sun during the summer months, but make an effort to enjoy the sun during the winter too! You may just keep those unwanted winter pounds off!
