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Keep your home warm to avoid gaining weight this winter

Scottish researchers have discovered a link between well-heated homes and a lower body mass index.

The scientists found lower weight levels among people living in homes heated to 23C or higher, while those who kept their heating turned down or off tended to be heavier.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, looked at 100,000 British adults over a 13 year period. Homes kept warmer accounted for about 15,000 of the households studied.

Also see: How the colour of your plates affects your waistline

"We set out to investigate the scientific claims that cooler indoor temperatures help us maintain a healthy weight by pushing our bodies to expend more energy through shivering and generating heat through tissues," lead researcher and behavioural scientist, Michael Daly, tells The Belfast Telegraph. "In fact, the research suggests people may eat less and burn more energy when residing in a warmer indoor environment."

Daly says a comfortable temperature for most people is 20.3-23C, but if we keep our homes slightly higher than this, we exert more energy and eat less because our appetite is suppressed.

It's worth noting this study falls on the heels of other research that suggests lowering room temperature by a few degrees can activate "brown fat," which helps burn more fat throughout the day.