Holiday weight gain is not compensated?

Does the holiday season cause long-term weight gain?

Most people tend to have a higher caloric intake during the holiday season. How does this impact bodyweight during and after the holiday season?

This study investigated the effect of the holiday months (November-January) and the rest of the year on bodyweight.

Subjects gained on average 0.4 kg during the holiday months. This gain in bodyweight was not compensated for in the months after (January-March). Following March, bodyweight seemed to increase slowly.

Therefore, the holiday season causes a relatively large contribution to yearly weight gain in most adults.

This does not mean that you shouldn’t enjoy your Christmas dinner. Just be mindful of your dietary intake during the other days and try to get some more exercise in (start your new year’s resolution in November!).

In conclusion, the average weight gain during the holiday months is almost half a kilogram and this is often not lost in the rest of the year.

Study:
Yanovski et al., A prospective study of holiday weight gain. N Engl J Med. 2000.

Go to the next infographic in the dieting series:
Bodyweight is higher on the weekend?

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