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Do thin people ...... ?

(45 Posts)
ExDancer Sun 01-May-22 10:15:14

Do thin people really feel the cold more than plumper people? I am thin, or so my family tell me, although I'm the right weight for my height, and I feel cold all winter. I wear layers of clothing whilst during this recent eam spell (UK), others are in short sleeves and skirts or shorts.

GagaJo Sun 01-May-22 10:17:10

I certainly feel noticeably colder when I'm slimmer. One particular summer comes to mind when I was (rarely) a normal weight. I wore a sweater the whole time!

I also thin though that you can acclimatise to a cooler temperature. We're on a no-heating rule in my house now prices have gone up. I've gradually got used to it and am too hot in a warmer house.

Casdon Sun 01-May-22 10:21:38

I think our bodies are less able to regulate temperatures when we get older, so it’s probably that rather than weight. I’m average weight I guess (size 12), and often I’m cold in the day but too hot at night, I’m forever flinging the duvet off.

Baggs Sun 01-May-22 10:29:10

When I was too thin I did feel the cold more than I do now at a normal weight.

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 01-May-22 10:33:41

Casdon I’m the same as you.

MrOops is always cold but I think it might be some of the tablets he is on, cold extremities.

Parsley3 Sun 01-May-22 10:38:21

I am average size but I do feel the cold. I often wear fingerless mitts indoors and blame my poor circulation.

Grandmabatty Sun 01-May-22 10:43:39

I have an underactive thyroid and cannot easily regulate my body warmth so I'm often cold. And I'm definitely not thin!!

Grannynannywanny Sun 01-May-22 10:45:49

Do thin people really feel the cold more than plumper people?

My memory would need to be better in order to answer that question.

Blondiescot Sun 01-May-22 10:47:19

No idea, I've never been one grin

timetogo2016 Sun 01-May-22 10:53:52

Same with me Casdon.

Elusivebutterfly Sun 01-May-22 11:08:21

The women I know who have always tended to be uncomfortably hot are all large. I used to be very thin and do think I felt the cold a lot.
I agree with Casdon that we find it harder to regulate temperature as we age, I certainly do. I stopped being a cold person after menopause but have reverted to being cold a lot now. I certainly don't think you acclimatise to lower temperatures. Maybe some people do, but not me.

Antonia Sun 01-May-22 11:18:00

I would love to lose enough weight to be able to test the theory.

M0nica Sun 01-May-22 11:29:47

I think a combination of factors contributes towards being, what my grandmother called, being a 'chilly mortal'

Part of it may be being thin, by that I mean, being underweight, I am not talking about being slim and comfortably within your BMI. That should not lead to you feeling cold.

Other reasons are, I am convinced, genetic. I come from a long run of chilly mortals. I wore cardigans at school when other girls were in their shirt sleeves. My mother and her sister both felt the cold, even though brought up in straitened circumstances, where fuel was used economically. On the other hand I can remember sitting freezing in my sister's house one day, while she was unbothered by the cold temperature.

The other thing that I think contributes to my 'chilly mortal' status is that I have a low normal body temperature. Normal body temperature is generally accepted as 98.6°F (37°C) but "normal" body temperature can have a wide range, from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C). Well, my normal temperature is right at the bottom of that scale. 97.0 (36.1) and is sometimes just below it. This can lead to some consterantion when my temperature is taken in medical situations. Again it is genetic, I share that charactaristic with my aunt and probably my mother.

I also have Reynauds Syndrome in my hands, which again means I need to keep well wrapped.

However I do not like over-heated rooms, much prefering wearing extra layers to putting the thermostat up. Our heating is off at the moment and the temperature is just under 18 degrees. I am quite happy with this because I am wearing a lovely warm wool sweater with a shirt over it, a thick wool cardie and thermal socks, and thinking of adding fingerless gloves to the ensemble.

ayse Sun 01-May-22 11:47:11

I’m definitely a chilly mortal, even more so now I’ve lost some weight. Sometimes my body can be warm but my feet get like blocks of ice. Even in the summer in the NE I’m still wearing woollen jumpers whilst others are happy in short sleeved T shirts and shorts.

The last few years I’ve concentrated on buying wool jumpers of various thicknesses and thermal tights to go under trousers, plus sheepskin gloves and a cashmere merino scarf received as a present. I still haven’t solved cold feet.

I lived in Turkey for a while and during the summer months the temperature was generally just right for me. No jumpers needed except in the 3 month winters which were cold and damp. Not helped by the poorly insulated house. The only time I was very hot was when the wind blew from the desert and temperature reached +40C. Mind you, I was cooking lots of food at this time, that didn’t help.

I’m not fond of being a chilly mortal but that’s just how it goes. Currently, I have a sleeveless vest, long sleeved vest, two jumpers and a hoody, plus socks, thermal tights, trousers and slippers and I feel toasty.

Redhead56 Sun 01-May-22 12:27:38

Size10/12 when younger now 14 I have never been big but even if I was I would probably feel the cold. I wear thermals and jumpers thick tights and I am still cold.

If I potter in the garden I am warmer than I am inside. Our house is well insulated but the front is always warmer than the back. When the sun is out I sit where it’s warmest if I am indoors but I am not a sun worshipper in the summer.

In the winter I even wear additional leg warmers from the 80s my family think I’m crackers. My latest mission has been buying lighter weight jumpers for our holiday. Even though it’s at the end of May I still think I will be cold.

TillyTrotter Sun 01-May-22 12:30:13

I’m searching my memory too Grannynw and Yes, I do remember being colder when slim.
I have been very warm this winter ..
(draw your own conclusions ? ) .

sodapop Sun 01-May-22 12:45:28

I'm with Grannynannywanny and TillyTrotter on this one memory fails me.

ayse how do you manage with all those clothes smile at the moment I'm wearing trousers, lightweight short sleeved blouse and toe post sandals. No heating of any kind.

grandtanteJE65 Sun 01-May-22 12:53:07

I have been thin all my life and yes, I certainly do feel the cold more than the plump people I know.

However, whether this is due to my weight (can't put it on however hard I try) or due to my having been taken out of an incubator in the ward for prem. babies where I spent the first three months of my life, and dumped into a pram that was wheeled outside and left there by the nursing staff in the wet weather of a Scottish February, I couldn't possibly tell you.

SueDonim Sun 01-May-22 12:55:48

I weigh quite a bit more than I did 20 years ago but still feel the cold. Though I also don’t, and have never, liked very hot weather either. My idea temperature in old money is between 68 and 72F. grin

H1954 Sun 01-May-22 12:57:38

I've never really thought about it to be honest. Although I am quite short - hardly 5 feet tall - I do carry a few extra pounds, but not many. When I feel cold I put on another layer.
Years ago,when mini skirts were in fashion, my Dad used to say 'don't wear one of those, your legs will get fat because of the cold' !

Kim19 Sun 01-May-22 13:01:26

Gnw, VERY funny! Appreciated.

ExDancer Sun 01-May-22 13:13:00

I lost a lot of weight through being ill Antonia and wouldn't recommend it. I struggled to regain enough weight to be regarded as 'normal' and was 6 stone at my lowest and it was surprisingly difficult as I was just not hungry.
I still find it impossible to empty my plate when eating out (and I hate wasting food) my appetite is non existent.
And today I am wearing 2 vests because I have visitors who are complaining my house is too hot. (At 21c Brrrrr)

LOUISA1523 Sun 01-May-22 15:22:27

I'm a size 8 to 10...I don't feel the cold anymore than anyone else...in fact am often hotter with hot flushes

ginny Sun 01-May-22 16:25:23

I feel the cold and I’m not thin.

Chestnut Sun 01-May-22 16:40:17

I also feel the cold and am not thin. I'm sure genes and circulation are largely responsible. My mother was a chilly person, also my daughter and myself.

In my old age I am also unable to cope with extremely hot and cold weather, so I am only really comfortable in a small range of temperatures, around 20C to 25C. The house is 18C at the moment but am well dressed up!