Thanksgiving Weight Gain Fear Mongering

Popular belief is that we gain 5-10 pounds between Thanksgiving New Years   

Many studies demonstrate we gain some weight but not as much as we think  

The National Institutes of Health repeatedly weighed 195 volunteers from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s.. The average weight gain was less than one pound

However about 9% of the participants gained an average of 5lb over the same holiday period 

Study Results

The majority of participants were weighed again the following September. 

Researchers found that not only were those holiday pounds not lost, there was an additional average weight gain or 0.45 lb.

Best Practices: What are the takeaways from this research?

1. You will probably gain some weight during the holiday season
2. It will not be as much as you might think
3.The average weight gains were only about 1.5lbs, but they were not reversed.

4. These modest gains accrue of the decades, so this year’s 1.5 gain will be 30 pounds in 20 years.

6. The key is to enjoy family and friends during the holidays and take the rest of year to reverse these small incremental weight gains 

Read: A Prospective Study of Holiday Weight Gain