Does a fever make you lose weight?
Are you feeling under the weather, sweaty and warm? Do you still not have an excuse to skip that morning jog? The old saying goes that sweating can lead to weight loss — but does a fever make you lose weight too? Get ready to dive into the hot topic of fevers, calories, and how a few degrees could affect your waistline.
What is a Fever?
Before we start investigating whether or not fevers affect our weighting scales, let’s explain what they are. A fever is generally considered when someone has a body temperature over 100.4°F (38°C). Fevers can be caused by many things—though usually by infections such as colds or gastrointestinal viruses—and it’s one way for our bodies to set off their “alarm” system: alerting us about potential threats.
People might feel unwell due to dehydration, sleep deprivation, muscle pain and appetite loss – doesn’t it sound like fun with all these symptoms at once?
Can You Burn Fat During a Fever?
The theory behind this idea is actually quite simple: similar to exercise-induced sweats from working out at high intensities; people sweat during fevers which seems they are burning calories. But do we really shed pounds through sweating during sicknesses now statistically speaking?
Well.. maybe yes, but primarily because of water expenditure aka intense dehydration rather than fat-burning.
When your body heats up while fighting infections via immune response including white blood cells fight bacteria/viruses raises Basal metabolic rate (BMR) in early stages henceforth generating heat output which translates into calorie burned intake-wise however counting ounces lost from fever weighed against number expelled/inhaled fluids would turn out insignificant overall in weight-loss perspective.
Burning Calories vs Losing Fat
If only losing few grams or potentially kilograms of fluids matter instead of burning actual fat (which helps evade serious effects surfaced around obesity) either a sauna or fever could be your game. Yet, according to studies, bringing out the heating elements frequently in life threatening flu seasons might lead to losing more important components rather than yet again limited fluids themselves.
Water Weight: The Only Trick A Fever Has Up Its Sleeve
The good old trick of every fad diet is “losing water weight” and here’s where some people will argue that fevers can cause you to immediately lose a couple of pounds. Your body naturally holds onto water which shows up as extra weight; when sweating during infections with high body temperature leads towards an eventual emergency call for fluids within our systems due to dehydration caused thereby ultimately ineffective calorie burning process undergoes now glucose is burnt leading no reduction overall in fat deposits held beneath our skin although puffiness on cheeks may dissolve appreciably or so we think!
Short Term and Long-Term Effects
Water weights lost from higher temperatures do not count towards sustainable long-term losses if anything they come back equally fast leading problems besides severe chronic situations listed hereby:
- Hypotension – low blood pressure
- Dizziness during standing position post-fever.
- Circulatory imbalances and cardiac problems.
Does a Fever Also Lead To Appetite Loss?
You must know what hunger feels like particularly after being knocked down by illness enough times whereas given scenario how does this sound- You’re at home sick with fever running amok, tempting hot soup doing rounds around the house however appetite seems nil? It appears proper hydration helps put swift end regarding nausea distasteful vomiting feelings thus generating urge for eatables.
Adequate Rest Is Key For Recovering From Sicknesses
When suffering from such illnesses it caries importance that one focuses primarily upon adequate rest rather than excessive workout regimes planned in entirety of recuperating procedure ideal situations definitely require refilling carbohydrates consumption levels , but considering individual circumstances would shift all focus driven toward speedy recovery sole.
Final Verdict?
Well, there you have it. While some might argue that fevers can lead to weight loss by burning calories—typically fluids—it ultimately leads only towards dehydration and doesn’t burn any fat which is the real game here.
Remember: lasting effects of living in extreme temperatures could turn out quite harmful in long term leading to more harm than good hence adequate syrups and water alongside few-hour naps will do a trick instead fussing over slight weigh fluctuation during flu season.
Stay Healthy!