>> A meta-analysis of several research studies has found differing results for the influence of seasonality on food intake23. We, therefore, analyzed data from a 3-year national nutrition survey of approximately 3,000 people. Using a generalized linear model adjusted for age, we found a significant interaction (P <0.001) between sex and season, revealing that men are markedly affected by solar radiation and its seasonal fluctuation compared to women ...<p>It's a correlation .. is "markedly affected by solar radiation" a reach when the same correlation exists for tempreture?<p>Is it the UV or is it that men eat more and more active in the summer than in winter?<p>Hmmm.
In my view, guys who are overweight would be ill-advised to hide from the sun to lose weight. From their paper:<p>"Our study revealed that UVB exposure enhances food-seeking behavior in males via ghrelin and a process that is prevented in females. ... UV is a well-established carcinogen, but avoiding the sun rays adversely impacts human health, too. Since ghrelin has anti-inflammatory properties, halts heart muscle wasting and decreases arterial pressure, ghrelin may be the mechanistic link between solar exposure and cardiovascular disease reduction. Moreover, ghrelin enhances insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome patients and in animal models of type II diabetes. ... In addition to its function in regulating energy homeostasis and the functions mentioned above, ghrelin also mediates glucose homeostasis, muscular atrophy, bone metabolism, stress and anxiety, adipogenesis and the immune system."
Personal anecdote inbound.<p>Sun exposure gives me a lot of energy (not excess exposure but I have a pretty high threshold). I don't want to eat much when it's sunny. I don't need it, and a full belly makes me less likely to engage in activities because I'm heavier and it's harder to breathe. I have very little food and usually light meals, like lots of salad, fruits and sea food, and mostly at night/evening.
So sunshine makes you hungry, but also cold makes you hungry. So a moderately warm but cloudy country should have very thin citizens, for example the UK...<p>oh wait
Some melanocortin receptors drive appetite. We've known this for decades.<p>Melanocortin receptor 1 controls skin darkening and natural skin color. We've known this for decades.<p>Sunlight exposure triggers broad-spectrum melanocortin stimulating hormones. We've known this for decades.<p>*Specifically: alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone, and gamma-melanocyte stimulating hormone. They're all byproducts of proopiomelanocortin. Adrenocorticotropic hormone is a coproduct of some melanocyte stimulating hormones, and can optionally be cleaved into more melanocyte stimulating hormones.
Hmm, I always get really hungry after going swimming, which I attributed to the exercise and extra calories burned to maintain body temperature because water conducts heat more efficiently. Maybe it’s also because it’s the only time a significant amount of my body is exposed to sunlight too.
I find this sort of stuff quite interesting even if I don't understand the science at all.<p>I was wondering the other day why I find calorie restriction incredibly easy in winter (and at night, generally), yet quite difficult in summer, so this jumped out at me! I can go 6pm-10am without a pang of hunger, yet my wife can't even get to sleep if she's hungry.
So can low and high frequency EMFs trigger this same ghrelin response?<p>Serious question since light is also an EMF.<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tea-Museliani/publication/335137673_THE_EFFECT_OF_ELECTROMAGNETIC_FIELD_ON_AGGRESSIVE_AND_NON-AGGRESSIVE_RATS'_MEMORY/links/5f840c22a6fdccfd7b5aa363/THE-EFFECT-OF-ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELD-ON-AGGRESSIVE-AND-NON-AGGRESSIVE-RATS-MEMORY.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tea-Museliani/publicati...</a>
I don't know how the study was set up because i haven't looked yet, i will be looking to see if being awake vs asleep is a confounding variable.
That's the first I've heard that solar radiation protects against cancer. That's enough evidence for me to stop supplementing vitamin D and go outside. Next time hesitate before telling us the thing responsible for life on earth is bad. Really great experts we have who also got the food pyramid and multivitamins wrong. The scientific method isn't working too well if it's consistently churning out peer reviewed false conclusions.