Extreme heat due to climate change could increase the risk of chronic health problems like kidney disease and obesity
Nature Wants Us to Be Fat: The Surprising Science Behind Why We Gain Weight and How We Can Prevent—and Reverse—It,
is about to publish a new paper looking at the links between dehydration and obesity, with obvious implications for those living in hotter locales. “When an animal starts developing dehydration, this triggers fructose production from carbs,” says Johnson. The fructose stimulates the production of vasopressin, which helps store water in the body. But vasopressin also stimulates the production of fat. Camels, he points out, don’t store water in their humps, they store fat.
Johnson’s hypothesis is that “climate change is making it easier to get dehydrated and hot, and in so doing it will activate this chemical reaction so that when carbs are present, it will lead to more fructose and vasopressin being made,” he says. “You can actually create obesity in animals by making them slightly dehydrated, so there’s a very strong link between dehydration, heat stress, and obesity.
Dehydration, of course, is not an inevitable consequence of hot days. It is easily staved off by drinking water—not sugary drinks—staying rested, and finding shade. For those working and sweating in hot conditions it means frequent breaks and rehydrating with sports drinks or electrolyte solutions to replenish potassium, sodium, and other minerals lost through perspiration. “Wear a hat,” says Johnson. “Get out of the sun.” His advice sounds just like any other health official’s for a reason.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How do heat waves impact health in your Southern California neighborhood?A new online tool from UCLA shows health risks from excessive heat don’t play out equally from city to city.
Read more »
The WBUR Read-In: Heat wavesWBUR arts and culture fellow Lauren Williams recommends three books that use heat as a literary device.
Read more »
When Heat Waves Meet Air Pollution, Death Risks Rise SubstantiallyRising temperatures and more frequent wildfires are taking a grim toll on human health
Read more »
Feeling the heat from lawmakers, Google seeks to spin-off some ad-related businesses to AlphabetGoogle is considering turning over some of its ad-driven businesses to parent Alphabet to avoid being forced to split up by regulators.
Read more »
Ex-NFL running back Marion Barber cause of death revealed to be heat strokeBarber was 38.
Read more »
UK's slow heat pump efforts will take 600 years to meet 2050 targetJust 1.48 heat pumps were installed per 1000 UK households in 2021, and at that rate it will take more than 600 years to install enough to meet the UK government’s 2050 net zero target
Read more »