Can the sun keep you slim?

Scientists believe that going out in the sunshine could help keep our weight down.  They have found that moderate exposure to UV rays helps release a key protein, nitric oxide, which slows the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

It turns out that the skin releases nitric oxide after exposure to sunlight and that this protein plays a key role in the metabolism.

The experiments were carried out at Edinburgh and Southampton Universities.  Dr. Richard Weller, senior lecturer in dermatology at Edinburgh University, said:

"Studies such as this are helping us to understand how the sun can be good for us."

His team worked with scientists at the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Western Australia.  They found that overfed mice exposed to UV light slowed their weight gain.  The mice showed fewer of the warning signs linked to type 2 diabetes, such as abnormal glucose levels and resistance to insulin.

Nitric Oxide plays a role in the way we digest and process food and sugar, potentially preventing harmful metabolic conditions like diabetes.

However, the scientists have warned that as the findings are in mice, they might not precisely translate into humans and insist that more studies are needed to confirm whether sunshine exposure has the same effect on weight gain and diabetes in humans, especially considering that mice are nocturnal creatures covered in fur and not usually exposed to high levels of sunlight.

The good news is that previous studies in humans have shown that nitric oxide can lower blood pressure, and these new findings add to already acquired evidence that supports the health benefits of moderate exposure to the sun.

Professor David Ray, Manchester University, said:

"This is an important study which shows that lifestyle factors beyond diet can help prevent weight gain and diabetes.

"These findings support the idea that a healthy lifestyle should include time outside in the sunshine, not only for exercise, but also to benefit from sunlight on the skin."

Dr. Colin Michie of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, added:

"This paper raises critical questions for us humans - are the effects the same in our children and ourselves, and, if so, can they be applied to prevent obestiy, treat metabolic syndrome and save vast amounts of pharmacological treatment?"

We can only hope so at this stage and hope that they will be able to carry out trials in humans.

Although the sun gets a lot of bad press because of high numbers of skin cancer, if you are careful and don't spend too much time baking in strong sunlight, there are a lot of health benefits associated with moderate exposure to sunlight.  It is also needed for the production of vitamin D - essential for healthy bones and general health.

The easiest way for children to have strong bones is to play outside in the fresh air and sunshine.  Impact sports such as brisk walking, running, skipping, jumping, and even dancing keep bones healthy and strong at all ages - especially when done outside.

So, get up and go outside - your body will thank you for it!


I can help you improve your health.  If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com