Holiday Weight Gain Found To Have Long-Term Impacts Linked to Obesity, Study Reveals

Researchers have discovered that most participants in the studies they looked into retained their holiday weight gain. This was especially the case for those participants with obesity.

Holiday Weight Gain

According to older research, Americans gain just less than a pound of weight over the holidays. However, research also argues that this weight gain does not get reversed as seasonal changes pass.

This extra weight can be equivalent to over 50% of the total weight gained all year. With this, the excess pounds gained over the holidays could lead to a cycle of gradual weight gain throughout the lifetime of a person.

The recent findings were noted in the "Winter Holidays and Their Impact on Eating Behavior-A Systematic Review" study. The study covered a systematic review that searched for eating behavior and weight gain literature pertaining to winter holidays.

The studies covered the years 2013 to 2023. Only adult participants from ages 18 to 65 were included. The researchers screened 216 articles and focused on 10 specific ones that addressed their focused topics.

There were 4,627 individuals covered in the studies, with females comprising 60% to 65% of participants in six studies. However, in one study, there were 66% to 74% of males.

In eight of these studies, individuals had at least two study lab visits to offer data. One of the studies made use of wireless scales, while another made use of self-weighing. One multinational study gathered data regarding 2,924 individuals' weight changes in the span of 12 months. These individuals were from Japan, Germany, and the US.

Participants from the three countries had weight fluctuations over the winter holidays. Roughly half of the weight gain stayed until the study's end. This suggests that holiday weight gain could yield long-term impacts.

Among other studies, the experts also noted that individuals with obesity had a higher likelihood of gaining weight during vacation compared to those with a normal weight.

According to Dr. Steven Batash, a board-certified gastroenterologist as well as a leading physician from Batash Endoscoping Weight Loss Center, the holiday season could be stressful for some. With this, heightened cortisol levels could lead to weight gain due to the pressing urge to keep on eating. Moreover, Dr. Batash added that individuals may experience up to 80% higher melatonin levels over winter holidays. Aside from being linked to the circadian rhythm, this hormone is also associated with increased appetite.

Why Is It Hard to Resist Overeating Over the Holidays?

According to Kelsey Costa, a nutrition consultant and registered dietitian from the National Coalition on Healthcare, who did not participate in the study, the biggest contributor is the abundance of highly caloric and palatable food during this period. These foods tend to be associated with feelings of joy and comfort, making it hard for people to resist them.

Moreover, the foods that are typically presented during gatherings at this time often go beyond the daily calorie intake recommendations by as much as three times.

Mixed with rising sedentary behaviors, these factors boost weight gain susceptibility over the holidays.

Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.