Weight gain
during vacations is a common occurrence but a recent study unearths some
startling facts associated with vacation weight gain. Holidays are a great time
to unwind from the rigors of work and to relish delicacies that you may have
thought sinful during the normal course of your life. When you travel, you see
exotic places and taste local food, eating more than you normally would. It is
quite common that you put on a little weight but you never seem to think twice
about that.
Researchers from
the University of Georgia's Family and Consumer Sciences found that adults who
were on vacation for a period ranging from one to three weeks showed an
increase of one pound in weight. This is a very alarming situation as the
average American puts on only one to two pounds per year. When a considerable
portion of that
weight gain comes from only a week or more of eating, it is highly unhealthy, claim the researchers.
‘Weight gain during vacations does more harm than expected, leading to creeping weight gain and associated complications.’
About the Study:
This study was
conducted by Cooper JA from The University of Georgia and Tokar T from Texas
Tech University.
The weight gain
of 122 adults going on a 1 to 3 weeks vacation was noted down and their weight
after 6 weeks was again recorded. The results of the study showed that there
was significant
weight gain after the vacation but the weight gain
persisted even 6 weeks after the vacation.
The endless
eating binges and lazy times enjoyed during vacations resulted in a mismatch between energy intake and energy requirement, resulting in weight gain. However, a return to the routine did not aid in losing this additional weight. This led to, what is now being called, 'creeping obesity'
Creeping
obesity is when small amount of weight is added
over a period of time, unnoticeable initially because of the relatively small
number, but leading to considerable increase over a period of time. This can
lead to a host of complications associated with
obesity.
This is the
first study that focused on adult weight gain during vacation; there have been
other studies on school children. These studies too showed that children added
to their weight during vacation time than during school days. Alexander Ag and
colleagues studied over 200 first and second graders to find that weight gain
increased during winter vacations, affecting the
BMI growth of the children.
Highlights of These Studies:
- A uniform healthy lifestyle should be maintained all through the year.
- During vacations, there should be focus on healthy eating at least for lunch and dinner, when calories consumed tend to pile up.
- Exercise that is more in tune with the mood of the period, like long walks down the beach or trekking are fun activities that won't dampen the holiday spirit but will serve to control weight gain.
- The benefits from leading an active life during vacations will result in a glow to the face that people will get used to, encouraging the practice of exercising every day.
The study has brought to the fore
weight gain during vacation and holidays and the significance of:
- Exercising
- Healthy eating habits
- 'Creeping weight' gain
References:
1.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26768234
Source: Medindia
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