About 60% Misunderstand "Metabolism Tends to Increase in Summer" - 80% Recognize "Sweating = Metabolism Increasing"

Danone Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; President: Rodrigo Lima; hereinafter referred to as Danone Japan) conducted an "Awareness Survey on Summer Metabolism and Gut Environment" targeting 600 men and women nationwide aged 20 to 60.

The results revealed that while over 90% responded that they "want to lose weight" or "want to burn fat" in the summer, approximately 60% were mistaken in believing that "metabolism tends to increase in summer." Furthermore, it was found that about 80% of respondents recognized "sweating as a sign of increased metabolism."

Dr. Imamura, a certified physician of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine and a specialist of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society, pointed out, "While sweating in the summer can make you feel like 'fat is burning,' in reality, it is largely due to the expulsion of body water caused by the heat, and metabolism is not actually increasing." He added, "To improve energy metabolism, it is important to increase good bacteria in the gut. In the summer, increased consumption of cold food and drinks can lead to stomach discomfort and disrupt the gut environment, making daily 'gut care' essential." This suggests the importance of "maintaining a healthy gut environment" for fat burning.

[Survey Results Summary]

Over 90% Want to "Lose Weight" or "Burn Fat" in Summer! Needs Highest Among 50s

91.3% responded that they "want to lose weight" in the summer, and 91.5% responded that they "want to burn fat." The percentage of people who want to burn fat in the summer was 86.7% for those in their 20s, 90.8% for their 30s, 91.7% for their 40s, 95.0% for their 50s, and 93.3% for their 60s, showing a trend of increasing demand for fat burning peaking in their 50s.

Tend to Think Metabolism Increases in Summer Due to Sweating? About 60% Misunderstand "Metabolism Increases in Summer," 80% Unaware of Summer Metabolism Decline

It was found that 59.9% of people mistakenly believe that "metabolism tends to increase in summer." Furthermore, the reason cited for this belief was that "metabolism increases in summer because of sweating," recognized by 79.4%. Additionally, 80.0% of respondents answered that they "did not know" about this "summer metabolism decline."

"Gut Burden" from Summer Diet Can Also Cause Metabolism Decline

One in 3 People Experience "Summer Stomach Discomfort," but Gut Care Awareness Remains at 25.3%

While the importance of "gut care" for boosting metabolism in the summer is suggested, the survey found that one in three people experience stomach discomfort in the summer. The reason cited was "excessive intake of cold drinks and food," experienced by 54.3% of respondents. Moreover, only 25.3% are conscious of "gut care" for losing weight in the summer, highlighting the reality that gut care is not sufficiently practiced during the summer months.

[Survey Details]

Over 90% Want to "Lose Weight" or "Burn Fat" in Summer! Needs Highest Among 50s

In response to the question of whether they want to lose weight in the summer, 91.3% answered "yes." Additionally, 91.5% want to "burn fat" in the summer. By age group, 86.7% of those in their 20s, 90.8% in their 30s, 91.7% in their 40s, 95.0% in their 50s, and 93.3% in their 60s all expressed a desire to burn fat in the summer, with the proportion of those wanting to burn fat increasing with age, reaching its highest in their 50s.

The More You Sweat in Summer, the More You Tend to Think Metabolism is Better? About 60% Misunderstand "Metabolism Increases in Summer"

Approximately 60% (59.9%) of those who responded that they want to burn fat in the summer (N=549) believe that "metabolism tends to increase in summer." Furthermore, about 80% (79.4%) cited "sweating" as the reason for believing that metabolism increases in summer. Dr. Imamura stated, "In the summer, the external temperature is high, so the body does not need to generate heat, leading to a decrease in resting energy expenditure and consequently a tendency for energy metabolism to decline. While sweating in the summer can make you feel like 'fat is burning,' in reality, it is largely due to the expulsion of body water caused by the heat, and metabolism is not actually increasing."

Eighty percent (80.0%) of respondents answered that they "did not know" about this "summer metabolism decline," revealing that many people mistakenly believe that metabolism increases in the summer when they sweat.

"Gut Burden" from Summer Diet Can Also Cause Metabolism Decline

One in 3 People Experience "Summer Stomach Discomfort," but Gut Care Awareness Remains at 25.3%

While the importance of "gut care" for boosting metabolism in the summer is pointed out, the survey found that one in three people experience stomach discomfort in the summer. Dr. Imamura commented, "In the summer, there are more opportunities to consume cold drinks and food. Continuous intake of cold food and drinks can directly cool the stomach and intestines, leading to indigestion and stomach discomfort, so caution is advised." He also mentioned the impact of summer-specific dietary habits on the body.

In fact, the survey showed that 80% of respondents consume more cold food and drinks in the summer compared to other seasons. Specifically, "cold drinks (water, tea, carbonated beverages, iced coffee, etc.)" ranked first at 79.6%, "cold staple foods (cold udon, hiyashi chuka, soba, somen, etc.)" ranked second at 71.7%, and "frozen desserts (ice cream, shaved ice, etc.)" ranked third at 68.1%.

Dr. Imamura explained, "To build a body that easily loses weight, increasing metabolism is important. In particular, increasing good bacteria in the gut produces a substance called 'short-chain fatty acids,' which can increase energy consumption and work to prevent excessive fat accumulation. Therefore, to lose weight in the summer when metabolism tends to decrease, caring for the gut environment is also important." However, only 25.3% of respondents in this survey are practicing "gut-friendly meals" to lose weight in the summer. This highlights the reality that while many people experience stomach discomfort in the summer, few are consciously taking care of their gut environment to lose weight.

<Survey Overview>

- Survey Name: Awareness Survey on Summer Metabolism and Gut Environment

- Survey Method: Internet Survey

- Survey Period: June 3-4, 2026

- Survey Target: Men and women aged 20 to 60

- Number of Respondents: 600

[Expert Recommendation for "Summer Gut Care"]

"Summer is a season when the stomach and intestines are easily burdened due to increased consumption of cold drinks and food. When the function of the stomach and intestines declines, digestion and absorption efficiency decreases, which can lead to stomach discomfort. The intestines are also important organs that are deeply involved not only in nutrient absorption but also in energy metabolism. Therefore, maintaining a healthy gut environment is thought to not only support stomach health but also contribute to building a body that supports fat burning.

To maintain a healthy gut environment, it is important to supplement good bacteria with fermented foods such as yogurt, natto, miso, and kimchi, and to consume dietary fiber, which serves as food for good bacteria, such as seaweed, mushrooms, oatmeal, and bananas. As a guideline, about 100-200g of yogurt per day, or about 1 pack (40-50g) of natto per day. Dietary fiber intake is recommended to be over 18g per day for adult women and over 21g per day for adult men, but modern people are deficient by an average of 3-6g. Therefore, it is advisable to aim for an extra handful (about 20-30g) of seaweed or mushrooms with each meal. Since good bacteria are not easily established in the gut, the key is to incorporate them continuously into your daily diet rather than consuming large amounts at once.

In addition, to promote fat burning in the summer, it is important to maintain physical activity levels in addition to gut care. NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), which has been gaining attention in recent years, refers to energy consumed through daily activities other than exercise, including using stairs, walking one station, working while standing, and doing housework. Especially in the summer, activity levels tend to decrease due to the heat, so consciously moving your body is key to supporting fat burning."

<Profile>

Certified Physician of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, Specialist of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society

Takahiko Imamura

A physician. Specialist of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society and a certified physician of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. After working at the Advanced Critical Care Center of Kurume University Hospital, he is currently engaged in internal medicine and endoscopic examinations at a regional core hospital. With the motto of "always listening to patients' voices," he provides a wide range of medical care from the digestive and liver fields to general internal medicine fields such as colds and hypertension.

<Career>

1997: Graduated from Kurume University School of Medicine, joined the Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurume University

1999: Department of Gastroenterology, St. Mary's Hospital, treated digestive diseases, focusing on endoscopic emergency cases such as gastrointestinal bleeding

2004: Advanced Critical Care Center, Kurume University Hospital, treated tertiary emergency diseases that are difficult to manage in other general hospitals, such as fulminant hepatitis

2006: As director of a community clinic, provided a wide range of medical care from colds to chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and actively provided home visits to contribute to regional healthcare

Currently practices internal medicine, focusing on gastroenterology and hepatology, and performs endoscopic examinations at a regional core hospital.

<About Danone Bio> Danone Bio is a brand that supports daily "gut care" that can be continued naturally and deliciously every day while maintaining daily physical condition. It contains Bifidus BE80, which is 100 times more resistant to stomach acid and reaches the intestines alive, and offers a variety of product lineups. In Japan, the four-pack "Danone Bio Yogurt" was first launched in 2002 and has since been a long-selling brand loved by many people. "Danone Bio Yogurt" offers plain and various fruit series, as well as four seasonal limited editions per year. In 2024, the "Gut Care Only" series of single-serving yogurts was launched, allowing consumers to ingest Bifidus BE80, oligosaccharides, and dietary fiber necessary for gut care all at once. In 2025, Danone Japan will launch its first drinkable yogurt, "Fat Burning Yogurt Drink," which contains rare sugar allulose, reported to have a fat-burning effect, to improve stomach condition and enhance fat burning. The brand supports daily "gut care" with a diverse product lineup tailored to modern diverse lifestyles. https://www.danone.co.jp/bio/

Danone Bio® Fat Burning Yogurt Drink

Danone Bio Fat Burning Yogurt Drink is a yogurt drink that simultaneously supports "fat burning" and "gut care." It contains the functional ingredient "allulose," which is reported to increase fat burning by 40% during light exercise and 10% at rest. In addition, "Bifidus BE80," which is 100 times more resistant to stomach acid, reaches the intestines alive and improves stomach condition. It is a product that can support efficient fat burning and stomach care, even in the summer when metabolism tends to decrease. The flavors are "Plain" and "Blueberry Flavor." (Details here)

<About Danone Japan> Danone, which succeeded in the world's first industrialization of yogurt in 1919 and is currently headquartered in Paris, France, is a leading company in the food and beverage industry that is expanding its global share through its health-focused product range with the mission of "delivering health through food to more people around the world." Danone operates globally in three categories: "chilled dairy and plant-based products," "water," and "specialized nutrition products," and sells its products in over 120 regions worldwide. Danone entered the Japanese market in 1980 and currently operates as Danone Japan Co., Ltd., offering the dairy products "Danone Bio," "Danone Oikos," "Danone Yogurt," "Baby Danone," "Petit Danone," and the plant-based food (oat milk) "Alpro." In 2020, Danone Japan became the first major consumer goods manufacturer and food industry company in Japan to obtain the international certification "B Corp," awarded only to companies that meet certain standards in business activities that consider society and the environment. Under the vision of "One Planet. One Health," Danone is committed to healthier and more sustainable business development and management. https://www.danone.co.jp