Does the weather affect weight?

It is wonderful! Finally a long spell of warm weather here in England! We haven't had anything like that for over two years! I am delighted!

Except that all of a sudden my weight is creeping up, and in the last 8 to 10 days I have gained 2lbs. My calorie intake has not changed (in fact it seems to have gone down very slightly from 1800 to 1700).

The problem is that I was happy to increase my calorie intake to 1800/1900 as long as it did not result in any weight gain. With the extra weight I feel enormous and cumbersome.

I know that normally people tend to eat more lightly when it gets warm. Is this because hot weather makes digestion more sluggish?

What do you people do? Have you lowered your calorie intake?

I am going to aim for 1400 cals while the heat lasts, but I would appreciate your opinion as to whether warm weather does indeed affect weight.

I find the opposite - I tend to gain a bit of weight in the winter and lose it in the summer.

Not a lot mind you, 5 pounds tops either way. No matter what I do it always back to the higher weight in winter T_T

Heat pretty much kills my appetite, so I always lose a couple pounds in the summer months. Plus, all the veggies and fruits are just so good, I tend to eat less breads and meats. Nothing better than a summer tomato with a bit of olive oil and sea salt.

Me any my family are the same way. We gain in the winter, and lose in the summer. But since the weather is typically pretty cool and overcast here year round, we're almost always stuck in "winter mode".

When it gets hot I gain about 2lbs of water weight, but as I acclimate I lose it. I don't gain winter weight because I usually go out despite the weather. 

To help with the slight weight gain I watch my salt intake and drink plenty of cool liquids (green tea). This  helps. I also watch carbs because they make me feel sluggish when it is warm. Normally it goes away within a week unless the weather is unstable.

Ah, that would make sense as I am obviously drinking a lot more water at the moment (usually I only have tea in between meals)... Although I assumed that I was only replacing the water that I was losing through perspiration, thus ruling out water weight to explain my weight gain...

Interesting that carbs make you feel sluggish when it's warm. How much do you reduce them by?

Use common sense.

Hot weather -> More sweat -> Dehydration -> Water weight retention.

I've also wondered about this. I live in georgia, and it's been close to 100 for over a month. If the body slows bodily functions in heat to regulate body temperature, wouldn't that lead to fewer calories burned? I assume the amount isn't hugely significant, but it does seem possible

I also have no appetite in the heat, and I can't stand 'heavy' foods. A stomach full of too many carbs, fats, or proteins just make me feel sick when I walk outside. I drastically up my fruit and veggie intake in the summer. Funny, in winter I don't eat much fruit, because it's not a very filling source of calories, in the summer, I live off them because I don't want that full feeling.

It gives me the impression that I've spent years learning that nature's way of feeding me is correct. I like fruit better when it's in season? Crazy : )

I try to eat as little carbs as possible--it is a personal preference, red meat also causes me the same problem (very slow digestion). Lots of light foods, salad, fruit, veggies etc.

Minda--yes. You burn more calories trying to keep warm than you do trying to cool off.  I read that it takes 200 cal to warm a gallon of ice water  to body temp. I wonder how many calories are used to warm an entire body to normal temp?

Original Post by artofphire:

Use common sense.

LOL! I wish I had some to use!

Original Post by artofphire:

Hot weather -> More sweat -> Dehydration -> Water weight retention.

In short, drinking MORE water should lead to 'water weight' loss, right?

yes, as peculiar as it sounds at first, drinking water actually prompts the loss of water weight (at least retained water weight).

and personally, my apetite stays the same in the summer, but I tend to want to eat more cool and refreshing things (no matter the time of day, I'm always craving fruit), which tend to have less cals than heavy "winter" type meals or chocolatey indulgent snacks. Popsicles and fruit are my ultimate weaknesses! but I have found myself lately with some more water weight. I should probably start drinking more water too.

yes. Or at least it does according to what I remember from High School Bio last year.

the first reason why weather affects weight is that your metabolism speeds up during the winter to produce more heat. During the summer it slows down to 'cool off'.

The second reason why it does is due to water retention (as a lot of people have posted)

I think there is a third reason involving hormones but I can't remember what it was.

Hope that helps

Yes, it helps, thanks!

At least I have an explanation as to why my weight was increasing so steadily, when my lifestyle had not changed!

I had quite a lot of water today, much needed, I hasten to say! We are not used to such high temperatures around here... Unfortunately, it looks like it's not meant to last much longer!

Thanks for all your answers, very informative!