Does ambient temperature affect the rate at which calories are burned (do you burn more when it's hot)?

Question

I want to understand the answer to this question. Intuitively it seems the hotter, the more calories you burn. After all, ice melts at different rates depending on ambient temp. Why wouldn't fat act the same way? And if fat does not act the same way, please explain.

Answer 1

Ambient temperature does not affect the burning of fat. You do not burn calories. A calorie is a measure of heat as something burns, or the amount of heat a material (an ounce of cheese, say) would give off if burned.

In the human body, a constant temperature is essential for survival, so the body tries to burn enough sugar to maintain the usual 98.6 F. This is easier if heat is not being lost through the head, feet and hands, especially, although the whole body radiates heat. Everything you eat that the body uses as energy is converted into sugar.

Fat acts as both an excellent source of sugar and as insulation from cold, so polar bears and Eskimos tend to be fat and eat fatty foods.

Answer 2

As I understand it, you burn more in the cold, because you have to expend energy to generate heat to maintain your core body temperature.