By Peggy O'Farrell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

You know this story: You're sweltering away in your cubicle and your neighbor, Skinny Minnie, is complaining about how cold it is as she reaches for her size 2 sweater.

The entire Tristate could faint from heat exhaustion, but Minnie would still shiver and scramble for extra garments (in a very small size) to shield her from the cold.

Why are so many thin people freezing as the rest of us swelter?

Because we're better insulated, many experts say.

Counselors at the Jewish Hospital Weight Management Center in Kenwood tell their clients that they'll be more sensitive to the cold as they lose weight.

"You lose some of your insulation, which is obvious," says Susan Sewell, registered dietitian and director of the center. "Your body's used to having some additional fat as insulation."

And as people lose weight, their metabolism shifts, Sewell says. "Once you're done losing weight, your metabolism will readjust."

Sewell and colleagues routinely hear complaints from clients that they're always cold as they watch the pounds fall off. It usually takes six to eight weeks for the body to adjust, Sewell says.

She hasn't noticed that clients who exercise regularly are warmer-natured than clients who just cut calories to lose weight. Everyone who loses weight is chillier, at least for the short term.

"I hear it pretty much across the board," Sewell says.

Cold intolerance is also "more apparent" in people who are on more aggressive weight-loss plans, she says.

Dr. William Stafford, a family practice physician in Edgewood, uses math to explain it: Rounder people have a lower surface-area-to-volume ratio, so the body loses less heat. He also has a less technical explanation.

"Fat is an insulator, so fat people are already wearing their own equivalent of a sweater," Stafford says.

Unless you're planning a move to Antarctica, though, there's not much advantage, in terms of your health, in the extra insulation fat provides.

Obesity is considered a national health risk as Americans continue to get heavier, and it contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, musculoskeletal diseases like arthritis and some types of cancer.

Most experts agree skinny people shouldn't gain weight to cut their risk of hypothermia. Instead, they argue, if you're overweight, you should lose and buy a nice warm sweater - in a smaller size.

An advantage for swimmers

Jolie Bookspan, a physiologist and author, maintains in several books and articles that fat helps protect swimmers and divers against hypothermia - dangerously low body temperature caused by extended exposure to cold.

In the copyrighted article "Many Are Cold, But Few Are Frozen," Bookspan cites several studies that show body fat slows heat loss - a crucial factor for swimmers, divers, kayakers and others who like to hang out in cold water.

Think about it: When's the last time you saw a skinny walrus?

Among the findings Bookspan cites:

• Body insulation increases proportionately with the average thickness of the fat layer under the skin.

• People with thicker fat layers lose less core heat at rest and during exercise in cold air and water.

• Fatter people can tolerate lower temperatures before they start shivering and their core temperature doesn't drop as rapidly when swimming in cold water when compared to thinner people.

"There is no question that the advantage is to the young and the globular," Bookspan writes.

Dr. Donald Locasto, an emergency medicine specialist at University Hospital, says it seems logical that heavier people should be less prone to hypothermia.

"Intuitively, you would think that thinner people are more likely to develop it," Locasto says.

And it might not just be because of the insulation factor: Skinny people have less fat to burn for energy and turn up the body temperature when exposed to cold.

Keep yourself under wraps

No matter what your weight, on nippy Cincinnati days, you'll feel chilly outside. To keep warm, try these clothing tips from the Sports Authority:

• Base layer: Keeps you dry and maintains body temperature. Garments should be soft, gently warming and moisture-wicking. Try silk, wool or synthetic blends. Cotton retains moisture, so avoid it.

•  Middle layer: Acts as insulation. Sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and sweatpants should be loose enough to allow easy movement, but not baggy. If you're outdoors skiing, hiking or snowboarding, avoid fabrics such as denim that retain moisture. Look for fabrics that provide warmth without excessive bulk, such as synthetic fleeces or pile. Wool is warm and wicks moisture, but can be bulky. Again, avoid cotton.

•  Outer wear: Protects you against cold, wind and wet. Look for fabrics that are water-proof or water-resistant but breathable. Polyester blends and down work well. Winter athletes should look for gear designed for their activity.

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E-mail pofarrell@enquirer.com