
Exactly when you were born could play a hidden role in your future BMI
Eating well, exercising regularly and maintaining a clean-living lifestyle are key to keeping your weight healthy but new research suggests a different factor could affect BMI
Known as BMI, Body Mass Index is the calculation that uses your height and weight to estimate your body fat. Staying within the right weight range is said to lower your risk for serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes - and the way to do it is typically focused on diet, exercise and lifestyle.
Prioritising getting enough sleep and avoiding stress, consuming nutrient-rich foods and engaging in physical activity are thought to be the key to maintaining a healthy BMI. But a new study has found another factor that could come into play - and there's nothing you can do about it.
Research published in the journal Nature Metabolism explored the link between weather conditions and a person's physiology over the course of their life and an intriguing result emerged.
People conceived during colder months, researchers found, could end up with a lower BMI and less fat around their internal organs, the Independent reported.
The study from Japan 's Tohoku University looked at 683 healthy men and women aged between three and 78 and found those conceived during a cold season ended up with 'higher brown adipose tissue density'. Brown fat tissue generates heat to help the body maintain its core temperature, including in newborns and cold environments.
Higher density of the tissue has been linked to a lower internal fat accumulation into adulthood, meaning people conceived during a cold season could end up with a lower BMI.
By contrast to brown adipose tissue, white adipose tissue is the most abundant type of fat in the body. Research found when it gets colder, less of this is stored than under hotter conditions.
"We report that individuals whose mothers conceived during cold seasons exhibit higher brown adipose tissue activity, adaptive thermogenesis, increased daily total energy expenditure and lower body mass index and visceral fat accumulation," said researchers in the study.
"Lower outdoor temperatures and greater fluctuations in daily temperatures during the fertilisation period are key determinants of brown adipose tissue activity." they added.
Obesity is a key risk factor for death, with more than a billion people around the globe thought to be living with very high levels of body fat. You're considered to be obese if you're 20 per cent over your healthy weight range.
Key advice to lower your BMI includes:
1. Do at least five half-hour sessions of moderate activity every week, such as brisk walking.
2. Eat five portions of fruit and veg a day. Besides being low in fat, they contain antioxidants, which help prevent serious illness.
3. Drink no more than two to three units of alcohol per day for women (and a weekly limit of 14). A unit equals half a pint of beer, a small glass of wine or a single measure of spirits.
4. Limit takeaways to once or twice per month. They are full of saturated fat, which raises the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol - both of which are major risks for heart disease.

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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Exactly when you were born could play a hidden role in your future BMI
Eating well, exercising regularly and maintaining a clean-living lifestyle are key to keeping your weight healthy but new research suggests a different factor could affect BMI Known as BMI, Body Mass Index is the calculation that uses your height and weight to estimate your body fat. Staying within the right weight range is said to lower your risk for serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes - and the way to do it is typically focused on diet, exercise and lifestyle. Prioritising getting enough sleep and avoiding stress, consuming nutrient-rich foods and engaging in physical activity are thought to be the key to maintaining a healthy BMI. But a new study has found another factor that could come into play - and there's nothing you can do about it. Research published in the journal Nature Metabolism explored the link between weather conditions and a person's physiology over the course of their life and an intriguing result emerged. People conceived during colder months, researchers found, could end up with a lower BMI and less fat around their internal organs, the Independent reported. The study from Japan 's Tohoku University looked at 683 healthy men and women aged between three and 78 and found those conceived during a cold season ended up with 'higher brown adipose tissue density'. Brown fat tissue generates heat to help the body maintain its core temperature, including in newborns and cold environments. Higher density of the tissue has been linked to a lower internal fat accumulation into adulthood, meaning people conceived during a cold season could end up with a lower BMI. By contrast to brown adipose tissue, white adipose tissue is the most abundant type of fat in the body. Research found when it gets colder, less of this is stored than under hotter conditions. "We report that individuals whose mothers conceived during cold seasons exhibit higher brown adipose tissue activity, adaptive thermogenesis, increased daily total energy expenditure and lower body mass index and visceral fat accumulation," said researchers in the study. "Lower outdoor temperatures and greater fluctuations in daily temperatures during the fertilisation period are key determinants of brown adipose tissue activity." they added. Obesity is a key risk factor for death, with more than a billion people around the globe thought to be living with very high levels of body fat. You're considered to be obese if you're 20 per cent over your healthy weight range. Key advice to lower your BMI includes: 1. Do at least five half-hour sessions of moderate activity every week, such as brisk walking. 2. Eat five portions of fruit and veg a day. Besides being low in fat, they contain antioxidants, which help prevent serious illness. 3. Drink no more than two to three units of alcohol per day for women (and a weekly limit of 14). A unit equals half a pint of beer, a small glass of wine or a single measure of spirits. 4. Limit takeaways to once or twice per month. They are full of saturated fat, which raises the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol - both of which are major risks for heart disease.


Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Democrats' ‘betrayal' of Joe Biden revealed by his press secretary in new book
Joe Biden's White House press secretary has quit the Democratic Party and written a tell-all memoir about the party's 'betrayal' of the former president. Karine Jean-Pierre, 50, who fiercely defended Mr Biden when reporters asked about his ailing health, has penned a book about her journey to becoming an 'independent' after serving in both Barack Obama and Mr Biden's administrations. Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, which will be released on Oct 21, is described as a 'groundbreaking, revelatory assessment of America's broken two-party system'. According to Legacy Lit, a Hachette Book Group imprint that will publish the book, 'insider' Ms Jean-Pierre will urge Americans to 'embrace life as independents' in a 'country obsessed with blind loyalty'. 'Jean-Pierre didn't come to her decision to be an independent lightly,' it adds. 'She has served two American presidents, Obama and Biden. In 2020, she joined Biden's campaign as a senior adviser, becoming Harris's chief of staff and then, two years later, White House press secretary. She takes us through the three weeks that led to Biden abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision.' The book is described as a 'hard-hitting yet hopeful critique' in which she encourages Americans to 'think outside of the blue-and-red box'. Jake Tapper, the CNN journalist, has been accused of cashing-in with a book about Mr Biden's decline in office while failing to report on it while he was still in office. Tapper was accused of being a hypocrite following the release of Original Sin, which alleged aides shielded the public from the extent of Mr Biden's decline while serving as president. According to the authors, the president at one stage forgot the name of actor George Clooney and was closely managed by his wife, Jill Biden, who allegedly protected the president from criticism and finished his thoughts for him. Mr Biden, 82, said the allegations were 'wrong' and 'there's nothing to sustain' them. Last month, he revealed he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Ms Jean-Pierre, who was in Mr Biden's inner circle, was criticised at times for being evasive about Mr Biden's physical condition. Her book appears to represent a continuation of her defence of Mr Biden. Earlier this year Ms Jean-Pierre accused the Democratic leadership of attacking Mr Biden like a 'firing squad'. 'Until January 20, I was responsible for speaking on behalf of the president of the United States,' Ms Jean-Pierre, the first black woman and openly gay person to hold the position of White House press secretary, said in a statement released on Wednesday. 'At noon on that day, I became a private citizen who, like all Americans and many of our allies around the world, had to contend with what was to come next for our country. I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes. We need to be willing to exercise the ability to think creatively and plan strategically.' Ms Jean-Pierre succeeded Jen Psaki as press secretary in 2022 after previously serving as deputy press secretary and also working as a senior adviser during Mr Biden's 2020 campaign. During Mr Obama's first term, she was a regional political director.


Metro
01-06-2025
- Metro
70,000,000-year-old dinosaur could unlock key cancer discoveries
Scientists believe they could develop new cancer treatments by studying the disease in the remains of prehistoric creatures. Researchers discovered structures similar to red blood cells in dinosaur fossils, which they believe could help better understand tumours and even give rise to new treatments. The ten-year study at Anglia Ruskin University was launched following the discovery of a fossil of a herbivorous Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus – known as a 'marsh lizard' – in Romania with a tumour in its jaw in 2016. Oncologist Professor Justin Stebbing led researchers in a project to see if any parallels could be drawn between the tumour and human cancers. Cancer specialist Dr Biancastella Cereser was part of the team of scientists that conducted a study into the unusual fossil. She told the Independent: 'We contacted the town in Romania, which was very excited to loan us the fossil.' The team then used a 'very, very, very fine drill' and a microscope to look inside the specimen, where they found structures resembling human red blood cells. The development has helped researchers understand 'the role of environment on cancer', Professor Stebbing said. He added that understanding the disease from a 'very ancient perspective' is another piece in the jigsaw. The project in some ways bears a similarity to that of the upcoming Jurassic World movie, which is due to be released in cinemas on July 2. The fourth film in the series follows a group of scientists trying to locate the remains of prehistoric species on an Atlantic island in a bid to create a life-saving drug for humans. More Trending However, after getting stranded on the island, the team discovers it is home to the results of failed dinosaur experiments which have been thriving for decades. They encounter some frightening mutations such as a Distortus Rex – a deformed, alien-like version of a T-Rex with six limbs. But while the claim that dinosaurs can be somewhat resurrected using DNA from their fossils is inaccurate, Professor Stebbing says the discovery of proteins in soft tissues means prehistoric remains could help with the development of better treatments in the future. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Diarrhea left me in hospital – but I never expected my diagnosis MORE: Biden jokes he 'can beat the hell out of' authors on his decline after cancer diagnosis MORE: Adele Roberts facing fresh health issue three years after being declared cancer-free