Latest news with #Physiology&Behavior
Time of India
4 days ago
- 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.
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.'
