New research suggests that temperature may influence how much people move in everyday life. In a study of 151 adults, researchers found that daily step counts were lower during both warmer and colder conditions compared with moderate temperatures, while colder conditions were also associated with reductions in light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
The participants had an average age of 62. During moderate temperature conditions, they averaged about 11,602 steps per day. That fell to approximately 10,576 steps during warmer conditions and 10,641 steps during colder conditions. The researchers also found that the effects tended to be more noticeable among people who were already among the most physically active.
What the Researchers Found
Compared with moderate temperatures, warmer conditions were associated with fewer daily steps. Colder conditions had a broader association with movement: participants recorded not only fewer steps, but also less light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Sitting time, however, did not differ significantly across the three temperature conditions.
During moderate conditions, participants averaged roughly 255 minutes per day of light-intensity activity and 104 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity. In colder conditions, those figures declined to approximately 244 minutes and 91 minutes, respectively.
The distinction is important. Warmer conditions in this study were associated primarily with reduced step counts, whereas colder conditions were associated with reductions across several measures of physical activity.
Why It Matters for Everyday Exercise
For people trying to maintain a consistent exercise routine, the findings suggest that weather can act as a practical barrier to everyday movement. A person may remain committed to being active while still accumulating fewer steps or spending less time moving when conditions become uncomfortable.
The study does not show that people should exercise through unsafe temperatures, nor does it prove that temperature alone causes changes in an individual’s activity. Rather, the findings show an association between ambient temperature and objectively measured movement patterns in this group of adults.
That distinction matters for gyms, trainers, fitness professionals, and individuals who evaluate progress week to week. A temporary decline in daily movement may sometimes reflect environmental conditions rather than a fundamental change in motivation or commitment.
More Active People Appeared More Affected
One of the more notable findings was that temperature-related differences were generally more pronounced among the participants who were already the most physically active. Baseline activity level modified the relationship between temperature and several movement measures.
That suggests highly active people are not necessarily immune to environmental barriers. Someone who normally walks, trains, commutes actively, or spends substantial time outside may actually have more opportunities for weather conditions to alter their usual movement patterns.
Neighborhood greenness was also examined, but the researchers concluded that it had relatively little impact on the overall temperature-and-activity relationship, although it did modify the relationship with sitting time.
The Findings Fit a Broader Pattern
The new research adds to a growing body of evidence examining how temperature and weather influence physical activity.
A separate 2026 study using accelerometer data from nearly 20,000 adults in China found an inverted U-shaped relationship between temperature and overall activity, with movement declining at temperature extremes.
Another 2026 analysis using billions of person-minute observations from U.S. Fitbit users found that both extreme hot and cold temperatures were associated with reductions in physical activity, although people also appeared to shift some activity toward more moderate times and days.
Taken together, the research points toward a practical reality: the environment can influence how much people move, even when their underlying fitness goals remain unchanged.
What This Means for Staying Consistent
The practical takeaway is not that people need to fight the weather. It is that a consistent fitness strategy may benefit from having alternatives.
When outdoor walking becomes less appealing, an indoor workout, treadmill session, strength-training session, mobility routine, or other climate-controlled activity can help preserve the habit of movement. When conditions are comfortable, outdoor walking and recreational activity may again become easier to accumulate naturally.
For fitness professionals, the research is also a reminder that activity data needs context. Step counts, training volume, and movement patterns can fluctuate for reasons beyond motivation alone.
The strongest fitness routines are often the ones that can adapt.
About the Study
The study, “Moderating effect of individual characteristics and neighborhood greenness on the association between ambient temperature and habitual physical activity levels,” was published in the August 2026 volume of Urban Climate. The research included 151 participants and examined step counts, light-intensity physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sitting time, baseline activity level, and neighborhood greenness across different ambient-temperature conditions.
The authors concluded that colder ambient temperatures were associated with reduced activity across several measures, while warmer conditions were associated specifically with reduced step counts.
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