Holiday weight gain is a common concern for many adults.
Various seasonal holidays may encourage overeating, sedentary behavior, and consumption of calorie-rich foods.
- Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death around the world.
- In their recent systematic review, experts in Romania observed that people are more likely to gain and keep extra weight during the winter holidays.
- The researchers found that people with obesity perceive food differently than those with lower body mass indices (BMIs), which can lead to increased caloric intake.
Obesity s an increasingly prevalent and chronic disease, currently the fifth leading cause of death globally. It is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
Researchers suggest that the winter holiday season, beginning from the last week of November to the first or second week of January, can be a time of significant weight gain.
The experts considered psychological factors influencing weight gain during winter holidays and the nutritional makeup of popular festive foods like over consumption of high-calorie, high-sugar foods along with drinks and alcohol.
They found that most people in the studies they analyzed kept the weight they gained during the holiday season, especially those with obesity.
The researchers believe that this systematic review was the first to explore the significance of nutritional patterns during the winter holidays.
They hope that their findings, published in Nutrients, can help encourage behavior linked to long-term success in weight management.
How do the winter holidays impact obesity
Older research suggested that Americans pick up an average of just under one pound during the holidays. However, research suggests that this gain often does not reverse as seasons change.
The extra weight can amount to more than 50% of the total gained throughout the year. Consequently, holiday excess pounds might contribute to a cycle of gradually increasing weight over a person’s lifetime.
When asked about how the holidays can influence obesity, experts Gastroenterologist suggested:
“The holiday season can be stressful and those experiencing stress tend to have higher levels of cortisol, the hormone that’s released in response to stress. High cortisol levels may cause weight gain because of the constant urge to eat.”
The Gastroenterologist added that people might have up to 80% higher levels of melatonin Trusted Source during the winter holidays. This hormone is associated with the sleep-wake cycle and increased appetite.
Experts explained that this means disrupted sleep can increase appetite, which can cause a higher intake of calorie-dense foods and an increased chance of weight gain.
What makes it hard to resist overeating during the holidays?
On being asked Expert Nutritionists said that The most significant contributor is the abundance of highly palatable and calorie-dense foods available during this time. These foods are often linked to feelings of comfort and joy, making it difficult for individuals to resist indulging.
Furthermore, the scope of foods presented at workplaces and social gatherings often exceeds the recommended daily calorie intake Trusted Source by up to three times.
The nutritionist reasoned that the shift in dietary habits may be “propelled by a ‘one-last-time to indulge’ attitude” before hopefully adopting healthier habits in the new year.
Combined with increased sedentary behaviors, these factors can make people more susceptible to weight gain during the holidays.
Experts opine that excess sugar and reduced physical activity are the primary drivers of obesity.
Experts cautioned: “While it’s easy to be complacent with exercising, you don’t want to be a couch potato and wait until January to start. I’ve seen some patients with this mentality gain 5–10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.”
Systematic review of holiday eating habits
The Grigore T. Popa University team saw an urgent need to develop effectual strategies for fighting obesity, which is often difficult to reverse once established. They believed that it is essential to gain an understanding of when people are especially vulnerable to weight gain.
To this end, the researchers performed a systematic search of the literature on eating behaviors and weight gain during the winter holidays.
The studies, published from 2013 to 2023, included only adult participants ages 18 to 65. After screening 216 articles, the researchers focused on 10 that specifically addressed the topic of interest.
Nine of the studies took place in the United States, Spain, or the United Kingdom, while one included participants in the U.S., Germany, and Japan.
A total of 4,627 individuals were included in the studies. Females predominated in six of the studies at 65–60%, while one study enrolled 66–74% males.
In eight of the studies, participants made at least two visits to the study labs to provide data. One study used wireless scales and another used self-weighing to assess weight changes.
Holiday weight gain can have long-term impact
The one multi-national study gathered information on the weight changes of 2,924 people from the U.S., Germany, and Japan over a 12-month period.
The participants in all three countries experienced weight fluctuations during the winter holidays. About half of the weight gained remained until the end of the study, suggesting that holiday-related weight gain can produce long-term effects.
In other studies, the experts observed that people with obesity were more likely to gain weight on vacation than people with normal weight. Some research showed a positive correlation between eating at restaurants during the holidays and increases in BMI.
Obesity linked to more difficulty losing holiday weigh gain
The research team found that typical winter holiday eating patterns have consistently induced weight gain in people with normal or higher BMIs.
Moreover, individuals with obesity gained more weight than those with normal weight, and they had greater difficulty losing the extra pounds after the holiday season.
The researchers concluded that obesity is a “multifaceted condition” that requires continual, multidisciplinary assistance for weight management.
