Nutrition adviser says not to stress over winter appetite

People should not feel guilty about having a bigger appetite or craving chocolate during colder, darker months, nutrition adviser Kaisa Kopliste told ERR’s Terevisioon. If they feel hungry, they should eat, she said.

Kopl iste said changes in daily rhythms and hormone cycles during the darker season can affect the production of melatonin and serotonin, which in turn influence appetite and satiety hormones. “It is very possible that we want to eat more during this time,” she said.

She advised against closely tracking body weight, saying that weight fluctuations in women can be caused by changes in fluid balance and vary across the menstrual cycle. Stress can also adversely affect body weight, she said.

People who experience unusually significant weight gain alongside health problems should consult a doctor, Kopliste said. She advised against starting a diet without medical guidance.

Kopl iste also said body mass index was of limited use because it does not account for age, where body fat is distributed or body composition. She encouraged people not to feel guilty about eating chocolate, adding that strict dieting and cutting out sugars can make it harder to think and make decisions.

She said the food industry benefits when people feel bad about their bodies and guilty about eating chocolate.