A recent study published in Nature Metabolism suggests that weather conditions during conception may influence a person’s long-term physiology. It found that people conceived during colder months tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) and less fat around their internal organs compared to those conceived in warmer seasons.
The research highlights a connection between brown adipose tissue (BAT)—a special type of fat that generates heat to regulate body temperature—and lower fat storage in colder temperatures. In these conditions, the body stores less white adipose tissue, which serves as the main energy store and hormone-secreting organ.
The study involved 683 healthy people, and the findings showed that participants who conceived during the cold season had higher BAT activity. This increased activity leads to higher energy expenditure and lower visceral fat. Researchers noted, “Individuals whose mothers conceived during cold seasons exhibit higher BAT activity, adaptive thermogenesis, increased daily total energy expenditure, and lower body mass index and visceral fat accumulation.”
The researchers concluded that colder ambient temperatures and daily temperature fluctuations during conception contribute to higher BAT activity. They are now calling for further studies to examine how other factors, such as diet, affect the body’s fat storage processes.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
