Can Lack of Sunlight Affect Belly Fat?
Daily exposure to sunlight is essential for a healthy mind and body. During the summer, you’ve likely spent hours outside hiking new trails, vacationing, exercising outdoors, and celebrating with good ole’ bbqs. Then winter hits, and somehow those healthy habits start to plummet as cold weather, baked goods, and hearty meals make their way to the dinner table. That being said, have you ever noticed it’s easier to lose weight during summer than winter? If you’re nodding yes, it turns out sunlight could play a major role in fat loss, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
In particular, hot weather leads to slower digestion (per AccuWeather). This in return equates to our tummies feeling full longer. Besides, there’s also more opportunities to burn belly fat and support weight loss goals. Think seasonal fruits (i.e. berries, watermelon), fresh green salads, and summer sports.
In contrast, the absence of sunlight may lead to weight gain. Peter Light, an author of the aforementioned study, comments to Medical News Today, “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.”
Excerpted from Health Digest
