IN THIS ISSUE Holiday Weight Gain May Contribute to Overweight and Obesity Researchers Isolate Appetite-regulating Receptor The "Fidget Factor" in Weight Control Task Force Welcomes New Members New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Released Study Suggests Anti-Nausea Drug May Treat Bulimia New Pediatric Growth Charts Include BMI The "Great Nutrition Debate" Sparks Controversy USDA Website Offers Nutrition Guidance New and Updated WIN Publications Materials From Other Organizations Meeting Notes WIN NIDDK
|
FALL 2000 Holiday Weight Gain May Contribute to Overweight and Obesity While Americans gain much less weight over the winter holidays than is commonly believed, the weight they do gain may be a major contributor to the increase in body weight that often occurs during adulthood, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cumulative holiday weight gain may be particularly problematic for those who are already overweight or obese. Studies relying on self-reports show that most people believe they gain 5 pounds or more during the winter holiday period from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. Researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducted a literature review and found no clinical evidence to support this conclusion. To determine actual seasonal weight changes, the researchers measured weight in a convenience sample of 195 adults from September through March, with follow-up measurements of 165 subjects in June and September/October. Their results appear in the March 23, 2000, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Mean (+SE) Weight Change in 195 Subjects
Participants' average net weight gain between September and March was 1.06 pounds, with 75 percent of that gain (0.8 pound) occurring during the holiday period from mid-November to mid-January. For the 165 participants who returned in June and September or October, the average weight gain for the full year was 1.36 pounds, leading researchers to conclude that weight gained during the winter holidays is not lost during the spring and summer months. "Because losing weight is so difficult, it is important to learn when and why people gain weight so that effective strategies to prevent obesity can be developed," explained study co-author Susan Z. Yanovski, M.D., Executive Director of NIDDK's National Task Force on Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. The researchers explored possible reasons for holiday weight gain, including changes in perceived levels of stress, hunger, or activity; changes in smoking habits; the presence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD); and the number of parties attended. Only changes in activity and in hunger were related to changes in weight. Those who reported being much less hungry or much more active during the holiday period had the least weight gain, and some even lost weight. Conversely, those who reported increased hunger or decreased activity gained the most weight. Participants who had
a major holiday weight gain, defined as 5 pounds or more, were more likely
to be overweight or obese than those who gained less. "Such weight
gain may be clinically important, particularly for those already at risk
for obesity related conditions," the researchers wrote. Weight gain
during adulthood is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and other conditions. The researchers concluded that promotion of weight stability during the fall and winter months may prove to be a useful strategy for preventing the often substantial and potentially dangerous weight gain that occurs during adulthood. The finding that participants who reported more physical activity had less weight gain points to the need for further research into increased physical activity as a method for preventing holiday weight gain among persons at risk.
back to top |