Sunlight, hunger and weightloss

Over43 · Post by **Over43** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:04 am

I have fortunate that I get 10 weeks off in the summer. I am down to my last 4 weeks and have been spending just about every other day at the county lake/beach.

I have noticed that the more time I spend in the sun (I use sunscreen) I tend to be less hungry, and actually will eat less. I have also heard that sun exposre promotes weight loss. (Sorry about the citation on this, I can't remember where I heard it.)

Hope all is well with everyone.

Jon

bonnieUK · Post by **bonnieUK** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:16 am

I've noticed a distinct correlation between sunlight exposure and appetite since I was a teenager. I wonder if it has something to do with seratonin levels (sunlight pomotes higher seratonin levels in the brain, if I remember rightly) and as far as I know this is a neurotransmitter associated with mood, sleep and appetite. I also notice I need less sleep and wake up much more easily on summer mornings.

I actually consider the lack of sunny days last summer to be a significant factor in gaining weight, though I'm not sure if that is down to brain chemistry, or just being stuck indoors because of the rain "boredom eating"

wosnes · Post by **wosnes** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:10 pm

Being in the sun makes me feel sick and then I don't want to eat. I've always been like this.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:42 pm

There is a very strong correlation between obesity and low vitamin D levels - but the usual explanation given for it is that obese people don't exercise much and so aren't outside in the sun. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/researchObesity.shtml
But I did read an article somewhere once that posited the opposite - that a lack of vitamin D could be contributing to the obesity...but from memory that was regarded as a pretty radical idea amongst the medical fraternity. I don't have any references that I can cite confidently, though I just did a quick google search and found quite a bit of material on the subject - not sure of the reliability of the sources, though.

wosnes · Post by **wosnes** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:28 pm

In reading The Jungle Effect and The Blue Zone I noticed that most of the groups of people who live long, healthy lives live in areas that are warm and sunny and spend much of their time outdoors.

It was mentioned briefly in both books that spending so much time in the sun increases their levels of Vitamin D. Prior to that, I'd read that there's a much lower incidence of breast cancer among women in sunny climates as compared to those in not-so-sunny climates -- possibly due to increased Vitamin D.

blueskighs · Post by **blueskighs** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:01 pm

have noticed that the more time I spend in the sun (I use sunscreen) I tend to be less hungry, and actually will eat less. I have also heard that sun exposre promotes weight loss. (Sorry about the citation on this, I can't remember where I heard it.)

first of all hugely jealous of your 10 weeks off and days at lake and beach

hope you are thoroughly enjoying it!

otherwise, I have always noticed what you mentioned, when I get outdoors in summer my appetite drops, it is a very interesting phenomenon!

Blueskighs

angelka71 · Post by **angelka71** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:52 am

Wosnes,

I'm the same as you. Being in the sun makes me feel ill.

You've heard of people feeling depressed in the winter due to lack of sunlight...but did you know there's also a form of seasonal affect disorder (SAD) that afflicts people in the summer? Scientists think it is either related to the heat, or actually the stronger sun rays produced in the summer months.

I've never been formally diagnosed but I've always noticed that my moods tend to be much lower in the summer and start picking up again in the fall.

Just a little tid bit I thought I'd pass on.

bonnieUK · Post by **bonnieUK** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:56 pm

Interesting points about sunlight causing nausea, personally I've often experienced dizziness after sun exposure, but it isn't a particularly unpleasant feeling, and is only noticeable if I'm still for a length of time (e.g. when lying down for an afternoon siesta while on holiday, after 10 mins or so I feel like the bed/couch is spinning).

Another reason this doesn't bother me is that this never happens in England (even on rare occasions when we've had unusually high temperatures and I've been out all day), only when I go on my usual mediterranean holidays. Weird

p.s. oh I guess I should mention I don't consume alcahol, just in case anyone thinks the dizziness might be the result of too much Ouzo

wosnes · Post by **wosnes** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:25 pm

angelka71 wrote:Wosnes,

I'm the same as you. Being in the sun makes me feel ill.

You've heard of people feeling depressed in the winter due to lack of sunlight...but did you know there's also a form of seasonal affect disorder (SAD) that afflicts people in the summer? Scientists think it is either related to the heat, or actually the stronger sun rays produced in the summer months.

I've never been formally diagnosed but I've always noticed that my moods tend to be much lower in the summer and start picking up again in the fall.

Just a little tid bit I thought I'd pass on.

We must be twins! I feel MUCH better in the fall, winter and early spring than I do in late spring and summer. I live for Labor Day (here in the U.S., anyway) because I know it will cool down shortly after.

Some years ago a friend wanted me to move to FL. I told him that he liked me at that point, if I moved to FL he wouldn't. I'd be crabby and irritable and witchy. I'm not a warm-weather person.

I'm having a heck of a time getting out for 15-20 minutes daily to get that Vit D from the sun. When I exercise outdoors, always early morning or late afternoon/evening when the sun is lower.