heat & metabolism

[Falco]

I'm looking for someone who can explain the science behind this for me.

Basically, can an external heat source raise your metabolism, thus causing you to burn more calories?

Example: It is a hot day at the park and you are just sitting around. However, because of the heat from the sun, you are sweating and breathing heavy. Does your body need to use calories to sweat?
Are you burning more calories on a hot day doing nothing then on a comforable day doing nothing?
Is the sun in effect raising your metabolism?

Is this a similar concept to those vinyl sweat suits that boxers use (or sitting in a sauna)? The purpose is to cut water, but is the suit also raising your body temperature & metabolism so that it can produce the sweat?

 

[Totentanz]

If anything, I would think that it would work the other way around - that is that colder weather would cause you to burn more calories in an effort to keep your body warm. But I think that either way, it would have a neglible effect on metabolism.

 

[MaFi0s0]

I remember reading somewhere that hot or cold weather will boost your metabolism.

 

[imported_etothepii]

I've read that shivering in the cold is a great calorie burner. I don't know about sweating, but it is a process the body goes through. It can't be done for free; there must be some cost in calories. My guess is that it's a small cost, though.

 

[quadancer]

etothepii was right: shivering burns cals. And if you fidget...bouncing pencils, tapping toes, etc. you can burn 600 cals a day just doing that.
As for the heat (I live in Georgia) I think you tend to try to save energy when overheated rather than energetically run around all day, so therefore burn less regardless of any thermal effects.

The old-time gyms used to have these 'sweat boxes' that you don't see anymore. (just your head would stick out) Reason is: as soon as you drink that glass of water, you just put back all the water you sweated (and suffered) off! But a sauna effect is good for cleansing the skin and toxins out of the body, so there IS some benefit from it.