We’re starting to feel the wave of summer temperatures here in Georgia, and that means you’re going to start to sweat if you’re outdoors for an extended period or you’re exercising outside. Some people like to work up a sweat in the summer sun, while others get more out of a workout when temperatures are mild. But does temperature have an impact on how many calories you burn during an activity like running? In today’s blog, we explore the impact temperatures have on calories burned during a run.
Do You Burn More Calories Running In Hot Weather?
You may feel that because you’re really working up a sweat during your summer run that you’re actually burning more calories than when you’re running in mild or even cold weather, but is this actually true?
In reality, your body works hard to maintain a steady internal temperature around 98.6 degrees. It does this through a process known as thermoreguation, and when it’s hot out, your body thermoregulates by activating sweat glands so that you perspire, which helps to cool your body as sweat evaporates from your skin. More sweat means that you body is trying harder to help you stay cool, but it really doesn’t require more calorie burning to produce more sweat. In other words, you don’t naturally burn more calories if you’re sweating more during your summer run.
However, this extra perspiration can put you at an increased risk for dehydration, heat stroke and similar heat-related issues. You may not burn more calories during a summer run, but you may lose more fluids, and if you’re not working to replenish these fluids, you could be at risk of minor issues like muscle cramps or major issues like heat stroke. If you’re going to run in hotter temperatures, be sure to wear light clothes that help you stay cool and drink plenty of water during your run.
So while you shouldn’t expect to burn more calories during a warm summer run, you may actually find that it’s the winter runs that are a little better for your calorie burn. Although the difference is still quite small, when running in colder weather, your body will again work to maintain an appropriate internal temperature. If your internal temperature drops, your hypothalamus (a small area of your brain) may work to increase your body’s natural metabolism as a way to generate heat, in turn burning a few more calories. Running the same distance in the summer and the winter may result in a few more calories being burned during cold weather runs, but again, this overall difference is rather minimal.
You may be sweating more during your outdoor workouts, but remember that more sweat doesn’t equate to more calories being burned. For more information, reach out to Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.