I got fat because of the air conditioning! Artificial hibernation effect at work...

In the hot summer, the temperature exceeds 30 degrees every day, and it is so hot that we have to turn on the air conditioner almost every day. Doctors warn that sitting in the office with air conditioning on for a long time can easily produce an "artificial hibernation effect". Not only will the body temperature drop quickly and the gastrointestinal motility slow down, but you will also often feel hungry, making it easier to get fat due to the air conditioning. This should not be taken lightly.

Liu Bowen, chairman of Mackay Memorial Hospital and a weight loss specialist, said that in the past, there was a concept about weight loss that the weather is hot in the summer and people have less appetite, so they eat less and lose weight faster, making it the best season for weight loss. However, this concept has completely collapsed this summer.

The effect of artificial hibernation increases with long periods of sitting

This summer is extremely hot. It is so hot that we have to stay in air-conditioned rooms. As a result, we eat more. Coupled with the influence of the "artificial hibernation effect", most people and office workers stay indoors and turn on the air-conditioner, which increases the risk of metabolic syndrome. Some even sit for a long time and get fatter because of the air-conditioner.

The special weight loss clinic once admitted a 22-year-old office worker named Chen. The patient said that as long as the weather was hot, she would stay in the air-conditioned room almost every day. Because she was afraid of the heat, the air-conditioning temperature was set to 22 degrees. Not only did she have to wear long sleeves indoors, but also because it was a bit cold, she was more likely to feel hungry. It didn't take long for her to want to eat, and she would eat this and that and drink some sugary drinks. In less than a month, Ms. Chen suddenly gained 4 kilograms, and the real cause of her obesity could not be found.

Staying in an air-conditioned room for a long time can easily produce a "quasi-artificial hibernation effect" and increase the risk of obesity.

Abdominal obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which can be improved through deep abdominal breathing.

Poor metabolism increases risk of abdominal obesity

Dr. Liu Boen emphasized that the so-called "artificial hibernation effect" means that for every 1 degree drop in body temperature, the metabolic rate will decrease by 12%. Once the metabolic rate drops, the body temperature will also drop, and gastrointestinal motility will slow down, making the stomach prone to bloating and constipation, or difficulty in excreting water from the body, resulting in edema. These factors are all causes of obesity.

In addition, the body's physiological temperature will drop, and the enzyme responsible for breaking down fat will react more slowly. Staying in an air-conditioned room for a long time will cause weight gain. In particular, the accumulation of abdominal fat causes abdominal obesity, which is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, cerebral stroke, chronic diseases, and liver and gallbladder diseases, and should not be ignored.

Doctor Liu Bowen (pictured) said that drinking more water, drinking less sugary drinks and being more active are important ways for office workers to fight obesity. (Photo/Reporter Zhang Shijie)

Drink less sugary drinks and do more deep abdominal breathing

In fact, it is not just Ms. Chen. Many people encounter similar troubles in the summer. Several patients who stayed in air-conditioned rooms all the time were found to have a significant decrease in pulse, heart rate and metabolic rate after examination and measurement. Their weight increased by 1 to 4 kilograms within a month. It can be said that the "artificial hibernation effect" caused obesity.

Doctor Liu Boen reminds us that in such hot weather, it is really necessary to use air conditioning, but we should also avoid making ourselves fat. In addition to not setting the air-conditioning temperature too low, you should also make yourself sweat for at least half an hour a day, drink plenty of water and less sugary drinks, and force yourself to do some simple exercises even if you stay in an air-conditioned room.

Aerobic abdominal breathing is practiced in a standing position, and the abdomen should be minimized as much as possible.

3 long 2 short aerobic abdominal breathing method

It is to practice abdominal breathing in a standing position, and try to shrink your abdomen as much as possible. You can practice for about 20 minutes every day during lunch and office breaks. It is best to practice until you sweat. It uses the principle of abdominal muscle movement. In addition to increasing the oxygen content in the blood, it can also eliminate abdominal visceral fat and improve metabolic syndrome through local abdominal activities.

3 long 2 short long inhale short exhale method

Step 1: Breathe in deeply for 3 seconds and exhale for 2 seconds.

Step 2: Do this 3 times every hour for 2 minutes each time.

3 long 2 short abdominal breathing exercises

Step 1: Place your palms on your abdomen.

Step 2: Place the index fingertips of both hands about 3 fingers above the navel (i.e. Zhongwan acupoint)

Step 3: Place the tips of your left and right middle fingers about 4 fingers below your navel (i.e. Guanyuan acupoint).

Step 4: Place your left and right thumbs about 2 fingers away from each side of your navel (i.e., the Tianshu point).

Step 5: Press down three times in a row with your thumb, index finger and middle finger at the same time.

Step 6: Rest for 2 seconds, then repeat step 5.

Step 7: Do this 3 times every hour for 2 minutes each time.