Energy balance
Sustainable nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) in adult humans contributes significantly to energy expenditure, amounting to 15% of average daily energy expenditure and up to 5% of basal metabolic rate, primarily mediated by brown adipose tissue (BAT) and potentially skeletal muscle.
Your body naturally burns extra calories when exposed to cold through a process called nonshivering thermogenesis, largely driven by brown fat. This can account for a significant portion of your daily energy use (up to 15% of total expenditure). While obese individuals may have a blunted response, maintaining some level of cold exposure or avoiding excessive insulation can help leverage this metabolic pathway for energy balance regulation.
Sustainable NST in adult humans amounts to 15% of the average daily energy expenditure. Calculations based on the limited available literature show that BAT thermogenesis can amount to 5% of the basal metabolic rate.
Why this rating
Based on a review of multiple studies including PET/CT scans and metabolic chamber data, though the authors note 'limited available literature'.
Source
Implications of nonshivering thermogenesis for energy balance regulation in humans
Wouter D. van Marken Lichtenbelt et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · 2011
DOI 10.1152/ajpregu.00652.2010
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- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in adults is negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage, and is absent or significantly reduced in obese and elderly populations.Good
- Skeletal muscle contributes to facultative thermogenesis in humans through mitochondrial uncoupling, mediated by the thyroid hormone axis and sympathetic nervous system, potentially acting as a major contributor to resting energy expenditure alongside BAT.Moderate
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