Believe it or not, people all over the world celebrate the holidays by gaining weight. In fact, the “average American” gains a minimum of five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, new research led by Cornell’s Food and Brand Lab, found that of their nearly 3,000 participants in the United States, Germany, and Japan, their “weight began to rise throughout October and November, and peaked 10 days after Christmas.” According to the year-long study, members were weighed daily, gaining on average 1.3 pounds during the Christmas to New Year’s holiday — not to exclude Halloween and Thanksgiving.
While 1-5 pounds doesn’t seem all that extreme — considering only half the weight quickly came off following the holiday season – it’s something to keep in mind whilst reaching for that second piece of sweet potato pie. As for the significance of the findings, Brian Wansink, PhD, co-author of the new study said:
““In past studies, results have been self-reported, or people would come into a facility to be weighed. That means people could fib or change their behavior because they know they’re being monitored.”
In an effort to cut out the “fibbing,” Wansink revealed that while participants knew they were being monitored, they didn’t know over what period of time or for what reasons. Contributors would then weigh themselves daily, which in reality, would likely happen anyway. “In that sense, we were getting behavior that was much more natural,” Wansink said.
Of course, another downside to consuming an extra holiday helping during the fall/winter seasons is that it leads to less outdoor activity.
“The weather may explain the gradual increase, but we also see these spikes that start about a week before the holiday and peak a few days after,” the author of Slim by Design said. “To me, that suggests that the holidays themselves aren’t the problem—it’s more the ramping up beforehand and all the Halloween candy or Thanksgiving leftovers or Christmas cookies you’re eating afterward.”
Though researchers admitted that study goers were likely more motivated in their weight loss efforts due to hopping on the scale on a daily basis, the study provides some real insight that everyone can benefit from.
Overall, Wansink advises “Instead of a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, have an October resolution not to gain too much weight in the first place. Then you won’t have to worry about five months of struggling.” Fair enough!
He added, “There’s nothing wrong with the holiday itself, but the key is to keep your eating to the holiday—not to the holiday season. You’re going to be in a lot better shape if you keep what happens on Thanksgiving to one day, rather than stretch it out for a week before and a week after.”
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