ScienceEvolutionHufFYIWinter

A Scientific Explanation For The Annoying Reality Of Winter Weight Gain

Research suggests that your body is just trying to help you.
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By 

Senior Science Editor, The Huffington Post

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There are probably evolutionary reasons for why we overeat in the winter.
Brigitte Sporrer/Getty Images

Many of us tend to pack on unwanted pounds in the winter, and it can seem extra-difficult to lose the weight until the seasons change. Now, a new study hones in on a possible explanation for why this happens.

It turns out that our bodies may experience stronger subconscious urges to overeat when the days get short and the weather gets cold, according to Dr. Andrew Higginson, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Exeter in England and lead author of the study. Higginson told The Huffington Post that it may all be part of a survival instinct to get our bodies to reach a target winter weight.

"This programming occurs to aid survival by reducing the risk of starvation," Higginson said. "In natural environments food is scarce in the winter, and fat is an insurance against bad luck when trying to find food. Fundamental drivers of our behavior are often unchanged since prehistoric times."

Yes, our ancestors relied on weight gain to survive harsh winters when food was scarce. And evolutionarily speaking, being overweight has not posed a significant threat to our survival compared to the dangers of being underweight.

For the study, the researchers built computer models to measure and predict exactly how much fat various species in the wild -- including humans -- would have to store in the winter to avoid starving or being eaten by predators.

The models revealed that our bodies have a natural target weight in the winter, below which we gain weight more easily. Above that natural target, it can become difficult to shed those extra pounds.

How many extra pounds does it take for us to reach that target weight? More research is needed, Higginson said.

"It's very difficult to say since we don't explicitly look at the annual cycle, and the values of parameters aren't specific to humans," he told HuffPost. "I'm afraid I can't even give a ballpark figure."

However, the researchers concluded that better understanding exactly how our bodies have evolved to control and manage weight gain in the winter and other seasons also can help us to better understand the complexities of obesity.

"If the person gains weight but loses it, then it's not so much of a problem," Higginson said. "The problem arises if not enough weight is lost in the spring. People should take advantage of the fact that their subconscious brain is amenable to weight loss in spring and summer."

The study was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Jan. 6.

Also on HuffPost:

5 Ways To Ward Off Winter Weight
Soak Up Some Sun(01 of05)
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Lack of sunlight can trigger a drop in the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, leading to depression -- and cravings. Avoid carb binges by getting as much natural light as possible; you'll get benefits even if it's overcast.Drink your morning cup of coffee outside, work by a window (if you can), and take at least 15 minutes to walk on your lunch break. A well-lit home and office can help, too: Add cool fluorescent lights, the type used in therapeutic light boxes.More from Health.com:7 Signs of Seasonal Affective DisorderBest Superfoods for Weight Loss25 Ways to Cut 500 Calories a DayFlickr photo by DartmoorGiant (credit:Flickr:DartmoorGiant)
Don't Cut Out Carbs(02 of05)
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To make sure your serotonin level doesn't drop low enough to trigger an all-out binge, you'll want to eat some carbs. Save them for late afternoon and early evening, when serotonin dips and cravings tend to start."By 4 o'clock, give in to what your brain demands," says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet. "Have pasta, bread, and starchy vegetables like baked potatoes, corn, squash."In other words, carefully time your carbohydrate attack, and eat the good-for-you complex carbs that are low in processed junk.Flickr photo by whitneyinchicago (credit:Flickr:whitneyinchicago)
Get Friendly With Winter Squash(03 of05)
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You may have enjoyed luscious farm-stand tomatoes all summer, but now their grocery-store counterparts look pale and feel like mini-medicine balls. But the produce that's naturally in season in winter is your secret weapon for keeping off the pounds: People who ate the most dark-green and orange fruits and veggies lost the most weight in six months, according to Brazilian researchers.Hello, broccoli, carrots, kale, oranges, spinach, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, winter squash! They're all delicious this time of year -- so toss them in your cart.Flickr photo by Whit Andrew (credit:Flickr:WhitA)
Move More Indoors(04 of05)
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A Michigan State University (MSU) study found that people who are active outdoors in spring and summer working in their gardens, for instance, drop that activity when the weather changes. "And they don't make up for it," says researcher James Pivarnik, professor of kinesiology and epidemiology at MSU.So even if you're eating the same amount of food as you did in July, you're not moving around as much, leading the scale to inch up. Find an indoor activity you love so much that you'll do it often. We like the Nintendo Wii Fit: You can perfect your virtual ski jump or hula hooping form and more -- all while burning those cold-weather calories. (credit:Alamy)
Photograph Your Food(05 of05)
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One recent study found that by tracking calories with a food journal you can double your weight loss. But who has time to write down everything she eats?Solution: Put your camera phone to good use, and snap a quick shot of all your meals and snacks (yes, even the little nibbles). Then download the photos to your computer, and print them to make a journal or compile them online with a service like www.nutrax.com or www.myfoodphone.com, where they'll calculate your calories for a small fee. It's a tiny price to pay for a healthier winter body.More from Health.com:7 Signs of Seasonal Affective DisorderBest Superfoods for Weight Loss25 Ways to Cut 500 Calories a DayFlickr photo by Jon Juan (credit:Flickr:Jon Juan)

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