Latest news with #DavidBroom
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Using cold plunges to lose weight? It can backfire, says new study debunking the viral hype
Cold plunges 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.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 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. You Might Also Like: Is the 'Cortisol Cocktail' trend worth the hype? What science says might surprise you 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.' You Might Also Like: Starving to get slim? Water-only fasting trend may be burning more than just fat, experts warn in revealing study 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.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Popular wellness trend is supposed to help with weight loss — but it may make you eat more
Maybe it's better not to take the plunge. While the ostensible point of most wellness trends is to promote good physical and mental health — as opposed to purely shedding pounds — weight management is often an added perk. But a fascinating new study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior warns that the caloric dump of one popular practice might be mostly in your head. Cold plunges and ice baths have made quite the splash in recent years, thanks to their purported boost in mental clarity, blood circulation and metabolism and their reduction in muscle soreness and stress. And if you've ever spent time in freezing water, you've probably noticed a significant uptick in your appetite — leading you to naturally believe you've really earned that burger. Sadly, it seems that might not be the case. Researchers suspect that the 'after-drop' effect — where core body temperature keeps falling after cold exposure, even when you're out of the water — triggers brain regions linked to temperature and energy, boosting appetite. 'Ice baths and cold dips have become really popular, with many people hoping they'll help with weight loss,' David Broom, a professor at UK's Coventry University Research Center for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences, said in a statement. '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,' he continued. 'Interestingly, people didn't say they felt hungrier during or after the cold water — they just ate more.' Researchers asked 10 men and five women who were active and healthy to spend 30 minutes in cold water (60 degrees Fahrenheit), hot water (95 degrees) or room temperature water (78 degrees). Afterwards — in what sounds like the best controlled trial ever — they were asked to eat a plate of pasta until 'comfortably full.' Of the three groups, the cold water cohort ate a whopping 240 extra calories. Depending on various factors, spending 30 minutes in a cold plunge — which is, by the way, not really recommended by experts, who advise shooting for no more than 10 minutes due to risk of hypothermia — only burns an estimated 250 to 500 calories, which is why probably why researchers say the overeating might negate the burn. For what it's worth, these findings align with what experts say about contrast therapy — the art of repeatedly alternating between hot and cold, like shvitzing in a sauna and then jumping into a cold plunge, as one does in modern bathhouses and traditional Finnish culture. Dr. Hany Demian, CEO of BioSpine and co-founder of Pain Care Clinics, previously told The Post that contrast therapy burns 'a very small amount of calories, but nothing significant.' He added that the surge in hunger has more to do with 'stomach contraction and relaxation, which stimulates the appetite.'
New York Post
25-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Popular wellness trend is supposed to help with weight loss — but it may make you eat more
Maybe it's better not to take the plunge. While the ostensible point of most wellness trends is to promote good physical and mental health — as opposed to purely shedding pounds — weight management is often an added perk. But a fascinating new study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior warns that the caloric dump of one popular practice might be mostly in your head. Advertisement 3 If you've ever spent time in freezing water, you've probably noticed a significant uptick in your appetite. Diana Light – Cold plunges and ice baths have made quite the splash in recent years, thanks to their purported boost in mental clarity, blood circulation and metabolism and their reduction in muscle soreness and stress. And if you've ever spent time in freezing water, you've probably noticed a significant uptick in your appetite — leading you to naturally believe you've really earned that burger. Advertisement Sadly, it seems that might not be the case. Researchers suspect that the 'after-drop' effect — where core body temperature keeps falling after cold exposure, even when you're out of the water — triggers brain regions linked to temperature and energy, boosting appetite. 3 Researchers suspect the 'after-drop' effect triggers brain regions linked to temperature and energy, boosting appetite. littlepigpower – 'Ice baths and cold dips have become really popular, with many people hoping they'll help with weight loss,' David Broom, a professor at UK's Coventry University Research Center for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences, said in a statement. Advertisement '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,' he continued. 'Interestingly, people didn't say they felt hungrier during or after the cold water — they just ate more.' 3 Study participants who spent 30 minutes in cold water ate a whopping 240 extra calories. Dusan Petkovic – Researchers asked 10 men and five women who were active and healthy to spend 30 minutes in cold water (60 degrees Fahrenheit), hot water (95 degrees) or room temperature water (78 degrees). Advertisement Afterwards — in what sounds like the best controlled trial ever — they were asked to eat a plate of pasta until 'comfortably full.' Of the three groups, the cold water cohort ate a whopping 240 extra calories. Depending on various factors, spending 30 minutes in a cold plunge — which is, by the way, not really recommended by experts, who advise shooting for no more than 10 minutes due to risk of hypothermia — only burns an estimated 250 to 500 calories, which is why probably why researchers say the overeating might negate the burn. For what it's worth, these findings align with what experts say about contrast therapy — the art of repeatedly alternating between hot and cold, like shvitzing in a sauna and then jumping into a cold plunge, as one does in modern bathhouses and traditional Finnish culture. Dr. Hany Demian, CEO of BioSpine and co-founder of Pain Care Clinics, previously told The Post that contrast therapy burns 'a very small amount of calories, but nothing significant.' He added that the surge in hunger has more to do with 'stomach contraction and relaxation, which stimulates the appetite.'
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Coventry researchers find ice baths make dippers eat more
Ice baths and plunges into cold lakes and rivers could make aficionados eat more, university researchers have Coventry University team believes appetite is affected by something called the "after-drop", where people's core body temperature continues falling even after they of the brain which sense changes in body temperature and energy levels may cause bathers to crave more food as a natural response, they David Broom said the findings conflicted with popular thinking that icy dips could help with weight loss. Cold water swimming and ice baths have exploded in popularity in recent years, with proponents arguing their benefits for a range of phenomena, from burning extra calories, to improved mental health. Prof Bloom led tests on their impact on appetite and food intake, along with PhD student Marie Grigg from Coventry University's Research Centre for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise study involved 10 men and five women, who were all healthy and active, spending 30 minutes submerged in cold water, warm water, or sitting in a room at 26C, in tests carried out over several researchers found those in the cold water - kept at a temperature of 16C - ate about 240 extra calories afterwards compared to those in 35C water or at room temperature."Ice baths and cold dips have become really popular; with many people hoping they'll help with weight loss," Prof Bloom said."Interestingly, people didn't say they felt hungrier during or after the cold water - they just ate more."Ms Grigg said more research was needed on the after-drop effect to determine whether repeated cold-water dunks could lead to long-term weight gain."Our findings show it is important to put strategies in place to avoid over-eating after cold water immersion," she added. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sun Life and Beyond Sport launch second year of "Hoops + Health" program boosting investment to help young people get active
The community program has helped over 14,000 people across six market Asia get active through basketball in its first year, with a goal of helping 45,000 people by end 2025. HONG KONG, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life, in partnership with global sport for social change foundation Beyond Sport, has announced the extension of its "Hoops + Health" philanthropy program for the second year, with the goal of helping 45,000 young people get active by the end of 2025 by providing safe spaces, coaching programs and equipment in underprivileged communities. Building on the success of the first year of the program, Sun Life will increase its investment from 1 million CAD to 1.5 million CAD, underscoring its commitment to combating rising youth physical inactivity, which is a significant risk factor for chronic conditions like diabetes. Given the concerning rise in diabetes among young people, helping people to get active and keep fit will be critical. The Hoops + Health program uses the power of basketball to help kids stay fit and feel strong, both physically and mentally. It reaches young people across six locations - Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore – particularly focusing on marginalized youth. This second year of the program aims to reach 31,000 people, building on the 14,000 reached in 2024. After breathing new life into five basketball courts and hosting a series of community events last year, Sun Life is gearing up to do even more in 2025, focusing on three key areas: equipment donations and court maintenance; basketball coaching and training workshops; and free basketball events and activities. As part of the Hoops+Health program, initiatives include: In Hong Kong SAR and Vietnam, Sun Life is expanding its existing partnerships with the Basketball Association of Hong Kong, China (BAHKC) and the Saigon Heat, to deliver free youth basketball sessions. In the Philippines and Indonesia, Sun Life is making basketball equipment donations to schools in low-income areas to encourage children to be more active in celebration of their 130th and 30th anniversaries respectively. In Malaysia and Singapore, basketball activities and events for many community groups, particularly focused on young players and coaches. David Broom, Chief Client and Distribution Officer at Sun Life Asia, said, "It's amazing to see the difference the Hoops + Health program has made in helping kids and young people get active playing a sport that they love. By increasing our investment in the initiative, we want to help more young people to live healthier lives. At Sun Life, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow up strong and healthy, and we're committed to making that a reality across Asia." Fred Turner, Executive Director at Beyond Sport, said, "The Hoops + Health program exemplifies the power sport holds to provide solutions to urgent social challenges. By leveraging basketball, we are creating a platform that not only improves physical health but also fosters community engagement and personal development among youth. We are excited to see how our expanded efforts will further enrich the lives of thousands of children across the region." About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, Mainland China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2024, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.54 trillion. For more information, please visit Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Note: All currency figures are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. About Beyond Sport Beyond Sport is a global foundation that leverages sport's transformative power to address today's critical social issues. It champions people, programs and communities that use sport to build opportunity and equity, creating a more inclusive and progressive world. Since 2008, the foundation has raised more than $20 million to promote social change. It has granted over $12.3 million to 539 initiatives across 77 countries in addition to vital capacity-building tools, supporting leaders to create lasting impact. Learn more about the Hoops + Health program with Sun Life at Media Relations Contact:Becky Marshall Director, Communications, Sun Life Asia T: +852 6171 0312E: Iris NgAccount DirectorT: +852 9838 3501E: View original content: SOURCE Sun Life Asia Sign in to access your portfolio
