A new study suggests that Americans probably gain only about a pound during the winter holiday season. The bad news is that this extra weight accumulates through the years and may be a major contributor to obesity later in life. This finding runs contrary to the popular belief that most people gain from five to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. That is the conclusion reached by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Volunteers were weighed at six-week intervals before, during, and after the winter holiday season. Compared to their weight in late September or early October, the volunteers gained slightly more than a pound by late February or early March, with most of that weight gain occurring between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The researchers found that only two factors influenced weight gain: level of hunger and level of activity. Volunteers who said they were much more active or much less hungry since their last clinic visit were the least likely to gain weight over the holidays, and some even lost weight.
Fewer than ten percent of volunteers gained more than five pounds; overweight and obese volunteers were more likely to gain five pounds than were those who were not overweight, suggesting that the holidays present special risks for those who are already overweight. Although an average holiday weight gain of less than a pound may seem unimportant, that weight was not lost over the remainder of the year. The researchers pointed out that the cumulative effects of yearly weight gain during the fall and winter are likely to contribute to the substantial increase in body weight that frequently occurs during adulthood. Health experts say a normal BMI ranges from 19 to 25. You are overweight if you have a BMI over 25. You are considered obese if you have a BMI of 30 and above.
To calculate your BMI:
Square your height in inches. For example, if you are five feet-six inches (66 inches): 66 x 66 = 4,356.
Divide the answer from step 1 by the answer from step 2 (126,810 / 4,356 = 29).
If you are overweight and have diabetes, take steps now to reduce your weight. Even minor weight loss can help you to better control your diabetes.
