Holiday Season Weight Gain

72% of the respondents plan to make the most out of the rest of this year, regardless of what that means for their diet. This is a significant increase compared to 54% reporting the same last year. 50% report eating so much during the end-of-year season that they had to undo a button on their pants or loosen their belt. 35% admit that they have eaten so much that they felt like they were going to be sick or were so full they felt like bursting. 47% of the respondents reported that they eat more than three meals a day during the holiday season, 42% said that they have had more than one dessert at a meal, and 59% said that they have eaten the same meal more than once in the same day. 

The average American believes that they will gain 8 pounds before the end of the year, based on the analysis of the sixth Annual “Writing Off the End of the Year” survey. The results also show that 66% of the respondents use the end of the year as an excuse to postpone being healthy, which is a 24% increase from last year. 72% report breaking their diet at this time of year, of those 48% say it was due to the temptation of holiday food. 78% reported that they gained weight last year, and of those 38% say that they are still carrying some of those pounds. 

“The end of the year should be a time to focus on family, friends, and self-care,” says spokesperson Dr. Kent Bradley, Herbalife’s Chief Health and Nutrition Officer, in a statement. “Identify specific, attainable actions you want to take to improve your health and your mindset, and if you can, bring your friends and family along on that health journey.” 

Once the tempting season is over 68% of the respondents are confident that they will have healthy habits moving forward into the new year, and believe that on average it will take 19 days to either get back on track or start new healthy habits. 47% are planning to make some sort of New Year’s Resolution for 2024 to be more healthful, this is up from 32% having the same idea last year. 

The top resolutions that the participants are considering include 68% wanting to eat more healthily, 66% planning to exercise more, 56% hope to get more sleep, 54% are going to focus more on self-care, and 53% are going to try harder to save money. 

Of those wanting to make more healthful food choices, they are looking to include more fruits and vegetables and other plant-based whole food options into their diet. Some are thinking about becoming a vegan while others are embracing a flexitarian diet which is less limited. Flexitarians generally make an effort to eat less meat and focus more on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes without making the change to fully vegan or vegetarianism. 

“As we approach 2024 and think of the ways to better ourselves in the new year, make sure you take the time to plan and prepare for the positive behavior changes you’d like to make and be kind to yourself in the process,” says Bradley. “Remember, the best diet changes involve specific behavior changes because those are the ones you can stick to.” 

“The hectic nature of holiday season may be a tough time for many to maintain their healthy lifestyle, but it’s important not to write off your healthy lifestyle goals,” said Dr. Kent Bradley, in an interview with South West News Service – a British news agency. “One way to beat the temptations is to eat healthy snacks that are high in protein, curbing the desire to overeat,” Bradley offered as a tip.