Appetite has been found to be more likely to be triggered in cold temperatures. For example, during cold winter months, the average person has been found to gain 1-2 pounds (0.45-0.91 kg). The increased appetite is thought to be the result of colder temperatures signaling to the brain the need for heat, which causes the brain to send cues to the body to eat more food that can be turned into stored fat. Typically, these cues make people crave foods that are rich in carbohydrates, such as pasta or mashed potatoes, because the starches and sugars will warm up the body more quickly.
More about appetite:
- One study found that people ate an average of 200 calories more each day after there began to be less daylight in the fall.
- Foods that are high in fat and sugar have been found to cause the same reaction in the brain as morphine or heroin, but on a lesser scale.
- Staring at the color often called "bubble gum pink" has been found to be effective in reducing appetite in some individuals, but it has not been conclusively proved. This is thought to be because the color has calming qualities that might reduce stress-related eating.