Scientists have discovered that staying in the cold could help us . Researchers at the University of California found that to the cold levels of a that helps form brown fat – the type of fat that and keeps us warm. Brown fat , which helps us . White fat stores excess energy, which results in . The researchers said that because and heating give us constant, comfortable temperatures, our body's need for brown fat . They found that: “Outdoor workers in northern Finland who are exposed to cold temperature have a of brown fat when compared to same-aged indoor workers.”

The research was conducted on two different control groups of mice. One group was with the that helps create brown fat. This group subsequently 30 per cent after both groups were fed . The researchers say this could be good news in the fight against . People who are have lower levels of brown fat than thinner people. Head researcher Hei Sook Sul said: “This could become an important target for research into the and and obesity-related diseases.” She added: “If you can somehow of this protein … you could possibly lose more even if eating the same amount of food.”