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Could AC Be Making Us Fatter?
By: Stepfanie Romine,
SparkPeople Blogger
7/23/2012 2:00 PM
: 90 comments
: 13,301 Views
Temperatures in Cincinnati and across the country reached near-record highs over the past few weeks. I live in a third- and fourth-floor walk-up apartment just north of the city's center. According to my thermostat, it was 96 degrees Fahrenheit on the top floor of my apartment at 10 p.m.
I very rarely use air conditioning. I turned it on once this year when our fridge overheated and I needed to keep all our food on ice for 24 hours, and we used it the weekend it was over 100 degrees for three days straight, though we set it to 85. I use it in the car sometimes when driving on the highway--I don't like so much wind blowing on me at high speeds--but even on the lowest setting I have to turn it off after a few minutes. Otherwise, I avoid it as much as I can.
I'm a naturally cold person, requiring at least a sheet on even the most stifling of summer nights, wearing socks year-round, and shivering in the car, the office, and pretty much anywhere else that central air is in use. Going to a movie theater or the mall in summer leaves me with goosebumps and chattering teeth. When dining out during the warmest months, I opt for al fresco dining; it's no fun to shiver through your meals.
I grew up living in old houses, none of which had central air. From kindergarten through 12th grade, I went to school in buildings without it. My dorm room freshman year didn't have AC, but sophomore year it did, though I had moved to France by spring quarter, when we would actually need to use it. In France, neither my room nor my host mom's house was "climatisée" (air-conditioned) but we had heavy wooden shades that we could pull in to keep out the heat. I noticed there that some businesses or offices were air conditioned, but that didn't mean the entire building would be; the hallways, restrooms, and other communal areas often did not have AC. Most restaurants and small offices, even government ones, were not air conditioned; neither was my university. No one seemed to mind its absence, so I soon stopped noticing.
Two weeks ago, I had to take my car in for a tune-up, in an area of town that offers little more than car dealerships, fast-food joints, and industrial sites. It wasn't exactly the ideal locale for a walk (on another 90+-degree afternoon) so I sat in the waiting area and responded to emails.
I carry an emergency sweater with me from May through September, which feels slightly ridiculous when walking about but is a lifesaver when blasted by Arctic air in a restaurant or store. Unfortunately, that day my sweater was in my car, which was then being worked on. I shivered, watched the goose bumps rise, and crossed my fingers for quick service. When I returned outside, I felt ill--it was SO hot. Too hot. My body didn't like the drastic fluctuation, and I ended up with a headache.
I just don't get it: Those of us in temperate climates anxiously await summer's sunshine and high temperatures, then the minute the mercury rises, we combat it with freezing-cold air conditioning. Why do we avoid the heat when we've been waiting for it all year?
People think I'm weird for avoiding AC and complaining about being cold in summertime, but as it turns out air conditioning might be among the modern conveniences taking its toll on our waistlines.
In a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, biostatistician David Allison, Ph.D., and colleagues suggest that America's reliance on AC might be a contributing factor in our obesity crisis.
Allison, a faculty member at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, found a significant "reduction in variability of ambient temperature." The use of AC is now widespread, especially in the South, where obesity rates are highest, and the human body is accustomed to being kept at a fairly steady temperature year-round. Allison and colleagues found that our reliance on central air and heat means we expend less energy, thus burning fewer calories, because we don't have to work as hard to heat up or cool down our bodies.
While climate control is just one of countless contributing factors that have led to the obesity crisis, it is interesting to note that of the 10 states with the lowest obesity rates, all but two (California and Hawaii) are in the northern half of the country, while seven of 10 of the heaviest states are located in the South (Ohio, Indiana, and Delaware are the heaviest states up north).
Another story on the findings points out that Europeans who live in climates similar to the southern states are not as obese--again, while not singling out AC use as a primary cause, it should be noted that southern France and Italy, for example, rely on heavy shutters, thick walls and other old-fashioned forms of climate control than we in the States do.
I've noticed that in both developing and developed countries outside the US, AC use is less prevalent--in Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Guatemela, and Honduras, I felt much more comfortable on hot days. I love that in other countries, you feel the heat, and a little bit of sweat doesn't gross people out. It's summer, it's hot, we're supposed to sweat!
Just after reading this story about Allison's findings, I happened across a New York Times Opinion section debate on air conditioning: Should Air-Conditioning Go Global, or Be Rationed Away? While I won't dive into the environmental, political, or economic arguments here, I will recommend this take on the subject: Let's Not Let A.C. Turn Us Soft.
Before I started avoiding AC, I was much "softer."
In my youth, I complained relentlessly in summer that the one window unit in our apartment was not adequate. Later, when we moved into a home built in 1912, I didn't understand the work that would have gone into retrofitting such a place with central air. I sweated and I pouted, grateful that I spent summers babysitting for a family with AC. When I moved into my first apartment junior year of college, it had central air, and I was so excited!
But over the years, partly due to my travels and shivering all day long in newspaper offices, I changed my mind about AC.
I gave it up for good last summer. Though there have been some uncomfortable nights--trying to sleep when it's 90 degrees isn't always easy--I feel stronger physically. When I go for runs at night or spend weekend afternoons on the bike path, I don't feel the effects of the heat as I did in years past. I still take the same precautions: sunscreen, hat, layers, plenty of fluids, but spending time outdoors is a treat not a punishment.
Remember a couple of years ago when I confessed that I Gain a Few Pounds Every Summer. Well, in the summers since I wrote that, I haven't gained weight. I credit that to many things, but partially to being in tune with the climate, which helps me tune in to my hunger. If I had the AC on, I wouldn't mind eating a heavier dinner or turning on the oven. These days, I do everything I can to avoid heating up the kitchen, so I turn to lighter food--lots of salads, chilled bean dishes, and sandwiches. I honestly wait for a cooler night or a weekend morning when I have some extra time, and I cook big batches of basic foods: beans, whole grains, and the like. When I'm hot, my food cravings are different. I don't want heavy foods (though I do still like a really good beer on a hot night); I crave water-rich fruits and veggies.
Here's what else I do to stay cool:
Whether my avoiding AC has any impact on my weight, I don't know for sure. What I do know is that summer's hottest days are easier to deal with now. My seasonal allergies have all but disappeared, too. I appreciate every moment of summer, heat and all.
Do you use AC? Do you think it's weird to avoid it like I do?
I very rarely use air conditioning. I turned it on once this year when our fridge overheated and I needed to keep all our food on ice for 24 hours, and we used it the weekend it was over 100 degrees for three days straight, though we set it to 85. I use it in the car sometimes when driving on the highway--I don't like so much wind blowing on me at high speeds--but even on the lowest setting I have to turn it off after a few minutes. Otherwise, I avoid it as much as I can.
I'm a naturally cold person, requiring at least a sheet on even the most stifling of summer nights, wearing socks year-round, and shivering in the car, the office, and pretty much anywhere else that central air is in use. Going to a movie theater or the mall in summer leaves me with goosebumps and chattering teeth. When dining out during the warmest months, I opt for al fresco dining; it's no fun to shiver through your meals.
I grew up living in old houses, none of which had central air. From kindergarten through 12th grade, I went to school in buildings without it. My dorm room freshman year didn't have AC, but sophomore year it did, though I had moved to France by spring quarter, when we would actually need to use it. In France, neither my room nor my host mom's house was "climatisée" (air-conditioned) but we had heavy wooden shades that we could pull in to keep out the heat. I noticed there that some businesses or offices were air conditioned, but that didn't mean the entire building would be; the hallways, restrooms, and other communal areas often did not have AC. Most restaurants and small offices, even government ones, were not air conditioned; neither was my university. No one seemed to mind its absence, so I soon stopped noticing.
Two weeks ago, I had to take my car in for a tune-up, in an area of town that offers little more than car dealerships, fast-food joints, and industrial sites. It wasn't exactly the ideal locale for a walk (on another 90+-degree afternoon) so I sat in the waiting area and responded to emails.
I carry an emergency sweater with me from May through September, which feels slightly ridiculous when walking about but is a lifesaver when blasted by Arctic air in a restaurant or store. Unfortunately, that day my sweater was in my car, which was then being worked on. I shivered, watched the goose bumps rise, and crossed my fingers for quick service. When I returned outside, I felt ill--it was SO hot. Too hot. My body didn't like the drastic fluctuation, and I ended up with a headache.
I just don't get it: Those of us in temperate climates anxiously await summer's sunshine and high temperatures, then the minute the mercury rises, we combat it with freezing-cold air conditioning. Why do we avoid the heat when we've been waiting for it all year?
People think I'm weird for avoiding AC and complaining about being cold in summertime, but as it turns out air conditioning might be among the modern conveniences taking its toll on our waistlines.
In a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, biostatistician David Allison, Ph.D., and colleagues suggest that America's reliance on AC might be a contributing factor in our obesity crisis.
Allison, a faculty member at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, found a significant "reduction in variability of ambient temperature." The use of AC is now widespread, especially in the South, where obesity rates are highest, and the human body is accustomed to being kept at a fairly steady temperature year-round. Allison and colleagues found that our reliance on central air and heat means we expend less energy, thus burning fewer calories, because we don't have to work as hard to heat up or cool down our bodies.
While climate control is just one of countless contributing factors that have led to the obesity crisis, it is interesting to note that of the 10 states with the lowest obesity rates, all but two (California and Hawaii) are in the northern half of the country, while seven of 10 of the heaviest states are located in the South (Ohio, Indiana, and Delaware are the heaviest states up north).
Another story on the findings points out that Europeans who live in climates similar to the southern states are not as obese--again, while not singling out AC use as a primary cause, it should be noted that southern France and Italy, for example, rely on heavy shutters, thick walls and other old-fashioned forms of climate control than we in the States do.
I've noticed that in both developing and developed countries outside the US, AC use is less prevalent--in Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Guatemela, and Honduras, I felt much more comfortable on hot days. I love that in other countries, you feel the heat, and a little bit of sweat doesn't gross people out. It's summer, it's hot, we're supposed to sweat!
Just after reading this story about Allison's findings, I happened across a New York Times Opinion section debate on air conditioning: Should Air-Conditioning Go Global, or Be Rationed Away? While I won't dive into the environmental, political, or economic arguments here, I will recommend this take on the subject: Let's Not Let A.C. Turn Us Soft.
Before I started avoiding AC, I was much "softer."
In my youth, I complained relentlessly in summer that the one window unit in our apartment was not adequate. Later, when we moved into a home built in 1912, I didn't understand the work that would have gone into retrofitting such a place with central air. I sweated and I pouted, grateful that I spent summers babysitting for a family with AC. When I moved into my first apartment junior year of college, it had central air, and I was so excited!
But over the years, partly due to my travels and shivering all day long in newspaper offices, I changed my mind about AC.
I gave it up for good last summer. Though there have been some uncomfortable nights--trying to sleep when it's 90 degrees isn't always easy--I feel stronger physically. When I go for runs at night or spend weekend afternoons on the bike path, I don't feel the effects of the heat as I did in years past. I still take the same precautions: sunscreen, hat, layers, plenty of fluids, but spending time outdoors is a treat not a punishment.
Remember a couple of years ago when I confessed that I Gain a Few Pounds Every Summer. Well, in the summers since I wrote that, I haven't gained weight. I credit that to many things, but partially to being in tune with the climate, which helps me tune in to my hunger. If I had the AC on, I wouldn't mind eating a heavier dinner or turning on the oven. These days, I do everything I can to avoid heating up the kitchen, so I turn to lighter food--lots of salads, chilled bean dishes, and sandwiches. I honestly wait for a cooler night or a weekend morning when I have some extra time, and I cook big batches of basic foods: beans, whole grains, and the like. When I'm hot, my food cravings are different. I don't want heavy foods (though I do still like a really good beer on a hot night); I crave water-rich fruits and veggies.
Here's what else I do to stay cool:
- Drink water. Lots of it. My rule is that if I'm sweating, I'm sipping. At home, my water bottle is always within reach.
- Take cold showers. This was a tough one for me, but now I love the refreshing feeling of a cool (lukewarm, really) shower rather than a hot one. Even lowering the temperature 10 degrees can help, and then you don't have to step out into a steamy bathroom. (Bonus: I stop sweating after my summer workouts sooner than when I took hot showers.)
- Wear fewer clothes. For those of you who live in families or with roommates (or for those who frequently host guests), it might not be as practical, but I live only with my boyfriend. I wear as little as possible that's still decent: a tanktop and running shorts or short, loose sun dresses when I'm at home. He often hangs out in shorts and no shirt.
- Peppermint oil. I keep a tiny spray bottle filled with water and a hefty amount of peppermint oil in the fridge. I spray it on the back of my neck and pulse points before going outside or when I feel hot. The tingly cool effects of the essential oil last about an hour. When I go to outdoor events with a cooler, I bring along the peppermint oil. It works!
- Use fans. I keep an oscillating fan on my desk, we keep ceiling fans running all the time, and use a box fan to create a cross-breeze at night.
- Keep curtains drawn and blinds closed. My home office is in a corner of the living room that faces south and thus receives quite a bit of light--and heat. To cope with the afternoon sun, I lower the blinds 3/4 of the way and close them.
- Appreciate the warmth. I relish the warm (warm!) breeze that blows in the window and allows me to smell the trees and flowers outside.
Whether my avoiding AC has any impact on my weight, I don't know for sure. What I do know is that summer's hottest days are easier to deal with now. My seasonal allergies have all but disappeared, too. I appreciate every moment of summer, heat and all.
Do you use AC? Do you think it's weird to avoid it like I do?
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Comments
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- 11/6/2012 7:37:04 AM
- 9/23/2012 7:11:54 PM
- 8/3/2012 8:21:06 AM
- 7/29/2012 8:07:27 PM
When it is 100 outside, my A/C is set at 80, when it is freezing, the furnace is set at 60. I'm glad of the comfort and convenience of central climate control! - 7/26/2012 12:16:52 PM
I grew up in an old house with no air conditioning and I can not sleep when it is hot and muggy so didn't get a lot of sleep in the summer time even with a fan blowing straight on me all night. plus it makes my stomach hurt and gives me a massive headache. It is fine for those that like the heat, but one of the reasons I still live in northern Indiana although I hate the winters is because I don't tolerate heat.
I do agree that most stores, offices and business places have the a/c on way too high. It try to keep our house around 78 so it doesn't feel so much hotter when we go outside or too cold when we go back in. - 7/26/2012 10:45:42 AM
I HATED having to enter/leave refrigerated buildings. My body ached with the change. What really opened my eyes were the 2-week trips I took with my research team; we camped in the desert 24/7 for the entire time. Bathing was very minimal (when we returned to civilization, we were avoided, for good reason, till we had cleaned up!) and after the first really miserable day, I simply didn't notice the heat. Yes, we wore hats, yes we drank water and water and water, but that was it, and we worked out in the heat all day long, not always in full sun, but always in 100+ temps.
Long story short, I never got sick, never had the problems with pain I had when I went from house-car-work-car-store-car-house in the city. Yeah, ac is necessary in some climates, but if you condition yourself by enjoying the shift from winter to summer, it's not nearly as essential.
I live in the NW now, and although I have a heat pump, which means I have ac, I never use it. It's so much better (for me) to acclimatize myself to the weather. My house is (my friends say) terribly cool in winter and uncomfortably warm in summer, but I am comfortable, because I've let my body adjust to reality, rather than trying to shape my environment to my desires. - 7/25/2012 9:11:24 AM
With temps hovering around 100 day after day, humidity that feels like you're walking through hot fog, and "ozone action alerts" that tell us to stay indoors, I'm thankful for every day that I have a/c. Now when I shower, I can dry off ~ those who live in hot, humid areas know what I mean. My hair actually dries. I *feel* so much better. Does it contribute to obesity? Who knows? I know it definitely contributes to my sanity! - 7/25/2012 8:29:11 AM
Yet on the other hand I realize, with the WAY extreme heat bearing down on the south, AC could well spell the difference between life & death for many people. I'm not sure what the answer is, but shake my head in concern and awe at the forest of AC units I recently saw on the top of an apartment complex in Baltimore...!
Don, Co-Leader of All Health Professionals, Laid Off and Staying Strong and Binghamton Area Losers SparkTeams - 7/25/2012 8:24:15 AM
Interesting blog and thoughts to be considered. To each his own, I say! - 7/24/2012 10:46:24 PM
Here is to stop wasting energy using that stuff!! - 7/24/2012 2:18:18 PM
In my office I freeze, in the restaurants and grocery stores, I shiver from the COLD settings. Now, from these comments, I see that others are the same. I always have long sleeves, always have a sweater with me, and actually use a space heater at my desk all summer long. Don't know why settings can't be more "reasonable" for ME. LOL (Went through menopause and never had a "hot flash"---) Must admit that when summer temps are above 100, a little a/c is necessary.... And married couples should be thermostatically compatible. lol - 7/24/2012 1:51:12 PM
But pretty much all of the women in my family are the same way, so I'm not alone in my "w"itchy attitude when it's hot! - 7/24/2012 12:30:52 PM
Correlation does not equal causation. There are a lot of reasons people are fat and I think air conditioning is the least of the worries. Socioeconomics, class, tradition, access, politics, environmental factors, education, etc. play a much bigger role than air conditioning (or technology in general). The (American) South was cited in this article and I’d challenge you to ask anybody there if A/C was making them fat! Add to that, I’d challenge you to go to Mississippi any day this month when the humidity is over 100% and the heat index is just as high and not use A/C. It’s a convenience for some but it’s a lifesaver for others.
I live on the West Coast where it doesn’t get too hot very often but when the mercury rises above 85 degrees you can find me in my air-conditioned house or my air-conditioned car. I am not one of those people who look forward to the hot weather but I deal with it as a fact of life. It’s so interesting to read other people’s comments.
- 7/24/2012 12:07:17 PM
Today, I do like being in an air conditioned building. sweating when you're trying to work is a definite distraction. So, a/c does improve the quality of work life in that regard.
Does it make people fatter ? I don't think so. It may be a symptom of a larger problem, but it's not the cause of the problem. I still believe that portion distortion, lack of regular exercise, poor nutrition, prevalence of fast food chains, etc... have more to do with the increasing of the American waistline than using a/c.
a/c is a modern convenience no different than a washing machine, microwave oven, computer, smartphone, etc....
In general, a person could make an argument that TECHNOLOGY is making us fat.
- 7/24/2012 11:03:30 AM
Now at home, I do keep the A/C on, because I live in the South and have pets I need to consider. However, I have the thermostat set to 80, and it's comfortable for me. My energy use is typically a LOT lower than that of most households in my neighborhood. - 7/24/2012 9:27:28 AM
I also find it ironic that people concerned about being "green" have no concept as to how much energy they're wasting by keeping the A/C at such a low temperature. We've definitly gotten "soft" in this country. - 7/24/2012 9:09:19 AM
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