Using cold plunges to lose weight? It can backfire, says new study debunking the viral hype
are having their wellness moment. From biohackers and athletes to celebrities and influencers, many are dunking themselves into tubs of icy water in pursuit of improved circulation, reduced inflammation, better mental clarity—and, perhaps most alluringly,
weight loss
. But new research suggests that this viral trend may not be as slimming as it seems.
In a recent report published in Physiology & Behavior and shared by the New York Post, researchers from the UK's Coventry University have uncovered an unexpected consequence of cold plunging: it may significantly increase your appetite, potentially canceling out the calories you burn in the process.
Burn now, binge later?
David Broom, professor at Coventry University's Research Center for
Physical Activity
, Sport and Exercise Sciences, explains, 'Ice baths and cold dips have become really popular, with many people hoping they'll help with weight loss. But our findings show that while cold water does make your body work harder and burn more energy, it also leads to eating more afterward—possibly undoing the potential weight-loss benefits.'
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And the numbers are telling. In the study, a group of 15 active, healthy individuals—10 men and five women—were asked to spend 30 minutes immersed in either cold water (60°F), hot water (95°F), or room temperature water (78°F). Afterwards, each participant was served a plate of pasta and instructed to eat until they felt 'comfortably full.'
— AlpacaAurelius (@AlpacaAurelius)
The group that braved the cold water consumed, on average, 240 more calories than the other two groups. This caloric increase nearly matched—if not canceled out—the estimated 250–500 calories burned during the 30-minute plunge.
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Why does cold make us crave more?
The scientists suspect the phenomenon is tied to the body's
thermoregulation
processes. After exposure to cold, the body continues to cool down—a process called 'after-drop'—which stimulates regions of the brain responsible for temperature and energy balance. This, in turn, may unconsciously drive people to eat more, even if they don't consciously feel hungrier.
Interestingly, participants didn't report increased hunger levels. But their behavior said otherwise.
'It's not that they thought they were hungry,' Broom noted. 'They just ate more.'
The contrast therapy craze and calorie confusion
This new insight echoes warnings from other experts about the limits of thermal therapies for weight loss. Dr. Hany Demian, CEO of BioSpine and co-founder of Pain Care Clinics, previously told The Post that contrast therapy—the practice of alternating between hot and cold environments, as in traditional Finnish sauna culture—burns 'a very small amount of calories, but nothing significant.'
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He also noted that the post-plunge hunger might result from physiological triggers like stomach muscle contraction and relaxation, rather than actual caloric need.
When wellness goes sideways
In a culture increasingly obsessed with 'biohacking' and performance-optimized lifestyles, cold plunges have become a status symbol of self-discipline and resilience. But this study invites a note of caution: the benefits of such trends are often nuanced—and sometimes counterintuitive.
While cold plunges might improve recovery and mental sharpness, banking on them alone for weight loss might backfire. The body's sneaky compensation mechanism could quietly derail your calorie deficit, one oversized plate of pasta at a time.
So the next time you emerge shivering from a tub of ice water, feeling proud of the calories you think you've burned, you might want to reconsider that post-dip indulgence. Because, as this study reveals, when it comes to weight loss, not every plunge is worth the plate.
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