Turning the central heating down not only saves money but could also keep you slim, scientists claim.
科学家宣称，把中央暖气系统的温度调低不仅能省钱而且能让你保持苗条的身材。
Evidence suggests that being cold may be a healthy and sustainable way to lose weight, experts believe.
导师相信，有证据显示待在寒冷的环境中可能是一种健康的、可持续的瘦身方法。
Conversely, warm and cosy homes and offices may be contributing to expanding waistlines, it is claimed.
相反地，据称温暖舒适的家庭和公司环境可能会引起肥胖。
The theory from Dutch scientists follows 10 years of research into the effects of the cold on metabolism.
这一理论由荷兰科学家提出，他们此前用了长达10年的时间研究寒冷对于新陈代谢的影响。
It suggest that a more variable indoor temperature, one that more closely mirrors temperatures outside, may be beneficial.
研究显示，更接近外界温度，即更加灵活的室内温度可能是有益的。
At least among young and middle-aged people, non-shivering heat production in response to feeling cold can account for up to 30 per cent of the body's energy budget, say the scientists.
科学家称，至少在年轻人和中年人中，应对寒冷时（不包括打寒战时）产生的热量占身体每天所消耗能量的30%。
That means lower temperatures can significantly increase the number of calories burned up instead of being stored as fat.
这说明了较低的温度能显著增加身体燃烧的卡路里，而不是让其堆积转化成脂肪。
Lead researcher Dr Wouter, from Maastricht University Medical Centre, said: ‘Since most of us are exposed to indoor conditions 90 per cent of the time, it is worth exploring health aspects of ambient temperatures.
来自马斯特里赫特大学医疗中心的首席研究员沃特医生说：“因为我们大多数人90%的时间都待在室内，探索周围环境温度对于健康的影响大有裨益。”
One research group in Japan had shown a decrease in body fat after volunteers spent two hours a day at 17℃ for six weeks, said the Dutch scientists.
荷兰的科学家们说，日本的一个研究小组发现，志愿者连续6周每天花2个小时待在17℃的环境后，体重都有所下降。
The Maastricht team also found that people got accustomed to the cold over time. After six hours a day in the cold for a period of 10 days, levels of heat-generating brown fat in the body increased and people became more comfortable and shivered less.
马斯特里赫特的这支团队也发现，人们经过一段时间后会适应寒冷。在连续10天每天花6个小时待在寒冷的环境里后，身体里产生热量的褐色脂肪增多，人体会觉得比较舒适而且也不那么经常颤抖了。