Jun 04, 2025
Aarushi BhaduryWhen it's hot, our bodies try to stay cool. One way this seems to happen is by making us want to eat less food. This is a common belief, and many summer meal plans in magazines also suggest "lighter" eating.
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While it seems obvious that we eat less in the heat, we need real scientific proof to confirm this. This chapter looks at past research to find out what the science actually says.
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Besides scientific papers, the study also includes a survey of restaurants and grocery stores in Toronto. Their sales figures show what people actually buy when it's hot, giving us practical insights.
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"Heat" isn't just one thing. It can be summer weather, a sudden heatwave, or even just being in an air-conditioned room. All these different types of heat might affect our appetite differently.
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Traveling to a hot climate can change our appetite quickly. Also, how hot we feel isn't just about the outside temperature; being active or even eating food itself can make our bodies warmer.
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In science, "appetite" can mean three things: the desire to eat, the physical need for food (hunger), or the amount of food actually eaten (intake). This study generally uses "appetite" to cover all these.
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Most scientific studies on appetite and heat have been done on animals. This review focuses more on human studies, but sometimes uses animal research for clues when human data is scarce.
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Early studies on soldiers in hot climates showed they ate significantly less food than those in cold places. Restaurants also see sales "plunge" during heat waves, as people just don't want big, heavy meals.
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Air conditioning makes a big difference. Restaurants with good air conditioning see normal sales even in summer, while breakdowns cause sales to drop dramatically. It seems indoor temperature heavily influences appetite.
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People often prefer cold foods when it's hot, like ice cream, which sells more in summer. While some hot foods might taste good, cold drinks and meals are generally seen as more appealing when trying to stay cool.
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