Possibly, according to the latest research.

A researcher at University College London reviewed studies to see if there was a link between burning off energy and being exposed to cold.

Interestingly, Fiona Johnson found over the last few decades householders both in the UK and USA had been steadily increasing the temperature in their homes. This appeared to show that people who did this expended less energy, the implication being they would be more likely to retain weight rather than lose it.

Perceived wisdom suggests that the body releases energy via hormonal changes and shivering when cold. Increasing room temperature prevents the body doing this.

Ms Johnson wrote: “Both genetic mutations and ablative lesions that result in abnormal energy expenditure contribute to the development of obesity in laboratory animals.”

Contributing to the debate, but not involved in the research, Dr. Peter McCullough, chief academic and scientific officer at St. John Providence Health System in Detroit. McCullough said: “As ambient temperatures go down, people tend to move around and have more adaptive behaviours that allow them to burn more energy.”

While an interesting debate, the research is limited at the moment. As such some have argued that it’s too early to say whether there is a link between obesity and temperature. Dr. Robert Eckel, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora said: “It’s possible that people exposed to cold temperatures induce a process that can lead to weight loss. I don’t know if it has implications for obesity.”