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Study Shows Daily Cold Exposure Via Ice Vest Leads to Fat Loss in Overweight Adults

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"Wearing such vests at home could be a simple, low-cost addition to weight loss strategies."
— Dr. Mariette Boon, lead researcher

Cold Exposure Linked to Fat Loss in New Study

A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul has found that regular exposure to cold temperatures can lead to significant fat loss. The research, a collaboration between the University of Nottingham and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands, offers a novel approach to weight management.

Key Details of the Study

47 adults with obesity or overweight participated in the six-week trial. Half of the participants were asked to wear an ice vest and waist wrap for two hours each morning, while the other half served as a control group.

  • The Protocol: The vest and wrap contained gel packs kept at a constant 15°C and were worn over a thin T-shirt.
  • The Results: After six weeks, the cold-exposure group lost an average of 0.9 kg (2 lb) , which was almost entirely body fat. In contrast, the control group gained 0.6 kg (1.3 lb) on average.

Researchers attribute the effect to the activation of brown fat, a type of body fat that burns stored white fat to generate heat and maintain body temperature.

Expert Commentary

  • Dr. Mariette Boon (LUMC, lead researcher) described this as one of the first studies to examine prolonged cold exposure specifically in people with overweight or obesity. She noted that wearing such vests at home could be a simple, low-cost addition to weight loss strategies.

  • Prof. Helen Budge (University of Nottingham, co-author) stated that daily cold exposure activates brown fat and may improve lipid profiles, glucose metabolism, and inflammation. These changes could potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Background & Ongoing Research

The study was funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation and the British Heart Foundation.

  • A separate ongoing study in the Netherlands is testing whether 90-second cold showers each morning can produce similar weight loss effects.
  • Researchers caution that cold swimming may not be directly comparable to this method due to factors like cold shock and differing physiological responses.

"Daily cold exposure activates brown fat and may improve lipid profiles, glucose metabolism, and inflammation."
— Prof. Helen Budge, co-author