Do People in Colder Climates Eat More? The Surprising Truth

January 7, 2026 •

4 min read

Research has shown that human appetites are influenced by environmental factors, and evidence from studies on soldiers and civilians alike points to a clear trend: people in colder climates tend to eat more. This is driven by several biological and psychological factors, from the body's need for fuel to generate heat to ancient, ingrained survival instincts.

Quick Summary

People in colder climates typically consume more calories to fuel their bodies and generate heat. This physiological response is supplemented by psychological factors, like comfort eating and hormonal shifts due to less daylight. Modern lifestyles, however, mean this increased caloric need is often met with unhealthy, high-energy foods, contributing to seasonal weight gain.

Key Points

Physiological Need: Colder temperatures force the body to expend more energy on thermoregulation, increasing calorie requirements.
Metabolic Increase: The body's metabolic rate rises in cold weather to generate heat, which in turn stimulates appetite.
Ancient Instincts: Human biology retains ancestral traits to eat more and store fat for winter scarcity, a survival mechanism less relevant today.
Psychological Factors: Reduced sunlight exposure can affect mood (SAD), leading to cravings for high-carb comfort foods.
Modern Lifestyle Impact: Spending more time indoors in heated spaces creates a conflict between instinctual hunger and actual caloric needs, often leading to weight gain.
Behavioral Shifts: Social gatherings and holiday traditions centered around food during winter also contribute to increased eating.
Thermic Effect of Food: Eating, particularly warm, dense meals, temporarily raises body temperature, which is a comforting sensation in the cold.

The Physiological Drive to Eat More in the Cold

The fundamental reason people in colder climates eat more is tied to the body's need for thermoregulation—the process of maintaining a stable internal temperature. When the ambient temperature drops, the body must expend more energy to keep warm. This energy is primarily derived from the calories we consume. Think of your body as a furnace; in the cold, the fire needs more fuel to keep burning brightly. Studies on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions have shown a significant increase in caloric intake among people arriving from warmer climates, a trend that stabilizes as their body weight increases.

The physiological mechanisms at play include:

Increased Metabolic Rate: To produce heat, the body's metabolism speeds up. This process burns more calories at rest, which in turn triggers hunger signals to replenish the energy stores. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), or 'brown fat,' plays a role by generating heat rather than storing energy, a process that is activated by cold exposure and requires extra calories.
Shivering: This is the body's involuntary, rapid muscle contraction designed to generate heat. The energy expenditure from shivering can be significant, further increasing the demand for food to provide the necessary fuel.
Thermic Effect of Food: The body generates heat as it digests food. Consuming more food, especially calorically dense items, provides a temporary warming effect. This is one reason warm, hearty comfort foods are so appealing in winter.

Psychological and Behavioral Factors Affecting Winter Appetite

While biology provides a strong case for increased eating, psychological and behavioral factors also play a crucial role. These influences can often compound the physiological drive, leading to changes in dietary choices and overall consumption.

The Impact of Reduced Sunlight and Mood

Less daylight in winter can affect mood and appetite for some individuals. A condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can lead to a craving for carbohydrate-rich, sugary foods. This is because carbohydrates help increase serotonin levels in the brain, which can temporarily improve mood. However, relying on these quick-fix comfort foods can lead to unhealthy eating patterns and weight gain.

Modern Indoor Lifestyles

Despite living in cold climates, many people today spend the majority of their time indoors in heated environments. This significantly reduces the body's need to burn extra calories for warmth. However, the psychological urge to eat more, rooted in ancient survival instincts, often persists. This mismatch between ingrained habit and modern convenience is a major contributor to winter weight gain. Boredom and reduced outdoor activity also contribute to more frequent snacking.

The Allure of Comfort Foods

Culturally, winter is associated with hearty, warm, and often high-calorie meals and holiday feasts. The emotional comfort and social aspect of sharing these meals can drive us to eat more than our physiological needs require. Our palate and cravings shift towards denser, fattier, and sweeter foods as a natural response to the season, influenced by both biology and tradition.

Comparison of Eating Habits: Cold vs. Warm Climates


Factor	Cold Climates	Warm Climates
Thermoregulation Needs	High; body burns more calories to maintain core temperature.	Low; body works to dissipate heat, which can suppress appetite.
Caloric Intake	Historically higher due to increased energy expenditure; average daily intake can increase.	Historically lower; modern-day variations depend on air conditioning.
Physical Activity	Can be reduced due to weather, but can also be higher for winter sports or survival activities.	Can be higher, but intense heat may also reduce physical exertion.
Dominant Food Cravings	Hearty, warm, high-fat, and carb-rich foods. Think stews, baked goods.	Light, cool, and hydrating foods. Think salads, fruits, ice cream.
Hormonal Influences	Possible link to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), affecting serotonin and cortisol.	Fewer seasonal hormonal shifts related to daylight; hydration is a primary drive.
Modern Lifestyle Impact	Mismatch between caloric drive and sedentary indoor life can lead to weight gain.	Mismatch between caloric needs and readily available food can lead to overconsumption in air-conditioned spaces.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the answer to whether people in colder climates eat more is a resounding yes, though with significant nuance. The physiological response to cold, which drives the body to seek more fuel for heat generation, is the primary biological reason. This is amplified by psychological and behavioral factors, such as seasonal mood changes, comfort food cravings, and the modern sedentary lifestyle. While ancient instincts encouraged us to stock up for winter scarcity, today's constant access to food means this tendency can result in unhealthy weight gain rather than necessary survival preparation. By understanding these drivers, individuals can make more conscious dietary choices during the colder months, focusing on nutritious, warming meals rather than relying on high-calorie comfort foods to satisfy their cravings.

Managing Your Diet in Colder Climates

For those living in colder regions, managing appetite can be a challenge. Here are some strategies:

Prioritize Complex Carbs and Lean Protein: Swap simple sugars for whole grains, legumes, and lean proteins to provide sustained energy and warmth without the sugar crash.
Embrace Soups and Stews: Nutrient-dense and warming, these can satisfy comfort food cravings healthily.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can mimic hunger, so continue to drink plenty of water, herbal tea, or warm broth even when you don't feel thirsty.
Keep Active: Counteract the natural tendency to be less active in winter by scheduling indoor workouts or outdoor activities like hiking or skiing to help manage energy balance.
Boost Vitamin D: With less sunlight, consider food sources like fatty fish, eggs, and fortified dairy, or speak to a doctor about supplementation to help with mood and appetite regulation.

This is why, while the urge to eat more is a natural and often unavoidable response to colder weather, modern environmental and lifestyle factors require a conscious effort to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

(https://www.outsideonline.com/health/nutrition/hungrier-in-cold-weather/)

Frequently Asked Questions

You may crave carbohydrates more in colder weather because these foods help boost serotonin levels in the brain, which can improve mood and combat seasonal mood changes. This is a common symptom for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Yes, your metabolism speeds up in cold weather as your body works harder to maintain its core temperature. This process burns extra calories, which in turn stimulates your appetite to replenish that energy.

Some studies have found that people may consume an average of 86 more calories per day during the fall and winter months. This varies based on individual factors like activity level, genetics, and environment.

Even if you spend most of your time indoors, your body's ingrained physiological and psychological responses may still cause you to feel hungrier. The modern lifestyle can create a mismatch where you feel the need to eat more without expending the calories, potentially leading to weight gain.

No, humans do not hibernate, but the tendency to eat more in winter is an evolutionary trait. For our ancestors, consuming more calories and storing fat was a crucial survival strategy for the colder months when food was scarce.

Yes, it can. People may feel less thirsty in the cold, leading to dehydration, and the body can sometimes mistake thirst signals for hunger, causing you to eat more when you actually need fluids.

To manage your appetite, focus on nutrient-dense, warming foods like soups and stews, stay hydrated with warm beverages, and maintain regular physical activity. Choosing healthy fats and complex carbs will provide sustained energy without a sugar rush.