What happens to the body's metabolism during cold exposure?

During cold exposure, the body must maintain its core temperature to support vital physiological functions and overall homeostasis. To achieve this, the metabolism of the body increases as it generates additional heat. This heightened metabolic activity is a response to the cold stimulus, which signifies that the body is working harder to produce warmth.

The increase in metabolism involves various physiological mechanisms, such as shivering thermogenesis, where muscle contractions generate heat, and non-shivering thermogenesis, often related to brown adipose tissue, which increases metabolic rate without muscular movement. This process is crucial because maintaining an optimal body temperature is essential for enzyme function and metabolic processes. Therefore, when exposed to cold, the body’s metabolism does not shut down or decrease; rather, it accelerates to counteract the effects of lower environmental temperatures.