Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance

Abstract In obesity research, the importance of core body temperature (CBT) regulation is often neglected. CBT thermogenic regulation, however, plays a crucial role in heat management through convection, radiation, and conduction processes to remove heat from the body, as well as metabolic processes...

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Main Authors: Imani Muhammad, Francene Steinberg, Jennifer Larsen, Robert B. Rucker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:FASEB BioAdvances
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2024-00140
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author Imani Muhammad
Francene Steinberg
Jennifer Larsen
Robert B. Rucker
author_facet Imani Muhammad
Francene Steinberg
Jennifer Larsen
Robert B. Rucker
author_sort Imani Muhammad
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In obesity research, the importance of core body temperature (CBT) regulation is often neglected. CBT thermogenic regulation, however, plays a crucial role in heat management through convection, radiation, and conduction processes to remove heat from the body, as well as metabolic processes that sequester heat through lipogenesis. This review emphasizes that even small changes in CBT can significantly impact metabolic events ranging from ATP production to fat deposition. Accordingly, a case is made that physical events, such as external heat exposure, also impact body compositional changes, as do work and metabolic processes. Examples are provided that suggest that independent diet and exercise, where one lives, can have an impact on body composition and obesity. For example, below 35 degrees of the earth's latitude, obesity rates are often 40 percent or greater among adults. However, in regions between 45 and 50 degrees latitude, such as the US‐Canadian border, obesity rates are 25%–30%.
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spelling doaj-art-b0ea2ac2537041c4a6c58c826b4ebbd02025-08-20T02:16:33ZengWileyFASEB BioAdvances2573-98322025-04-0174n/an/a10.1096/fba.2024-00140Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balanceImani Muhammad0Francene Steinberg1Jennifer Larsen2Robert B. Rucker3Department of Nutrition University of California – Davis Davis California USADepartment of Nutrition University of California – Davis Davis California USAMolecular Biosciences School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis California USADepartment of Nutrition University of California – Davis Davis California USAAbstract In obesity research, the importance of core body temperature (CBT) regulation is often neglected. CBT thermogenic regulation, however, plays a crucial role in heat management through convection, radiation, and conduction processes to remove heat from the body, as well as metabolic processes that sequester heat through lipogenesis. This review emphasizes that even small changes in CBT can significantly impact metabolic events ranging from ATP production to fat deposition. Accordingly, a case is made that physical events, such as external heat exposure, also impact body compositional changes, as do work and metabolic processes. Examples are provided that suggest that independent diet and exercise, where one lives, can have an impact on body composition and obesity. For example, below 35 degrees of the earth's latitude, obesity rates are often 40 percent or greater among adults. However, in regions between 45 and 50 degrees latitude, such as the US‐Canadian border, obesity rates are 25%–30%.https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2024-00140core body temperatureenergy metabolismglobal warmingobesitythermogenesis
spellingShingle Imani Muhammad
Francene Steinberg
Jennifer Larsen
Robert B. Rucker
Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
FASEB BioAdvances
core body temperature
energy metabolism
global warming
obesity
thermogenesis
title Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
title_full Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
title_fullStr Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
title_full_unstemmed Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
title_short Global warming and obesity: External heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
title_sort global warming and obesity external heat exposure as a modulator of energy balance
topic core body temperature
energy metabolism
global warming
obesity
thermogenesis
url https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2024-00140
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AT francenesteinberg globalwarmingandobesityexternalheatexposureasamodulatorofenergybalance
AT jenniferlarsen globalwarmingandobesityexternalheatexposureasamodulatorofenergybalance
AT robertbrucker globalwarmingandobesityexternalheatexposureasamodulatorofenergybalance