During the winter, some animals hibernate and, in preparation, double their fat stores with autumn’s abundance to deal with the subsequent scarcity of winter.2926 Genes have been identified in humans that are similar to hibernation genes,2927 which may help explain why we exhibit some of the same behaviors. The autumnal effect isn’t subtle. Researchers have calculated an average difference of 222 calories per day between caloric intake in the fall versus spring, and this isn’t just because it’s colder, since we eat more in the fall than the winter.
