Research
Adherence
Self-monitoring interventions (e.g., daily weighing, phone calls, mailings) during the holiday season can prevent or significantly reduce weight gain in adults.
If you are trying to lose weight, do not rely on willpower alone during the holidays. Use a structured self-monitoring plan, such as daily weighing or receiving regular reminders via phone or mail, to help maintain your weight.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Programs focused on self-monitoring during the holidays (phone calls and daily mailing) appeared to prevent weight gain... The intervention group had a greater self-monitoring and achieved a better control of body weight compared to the control group (-0.9 kg versus 0.9 kg, p = 0.007).
Why this rating
Based on specific intervention studies cited in the review; limited number of studies but positive results.
Source
Effect of the Holiday Season on Weight Gain: A Narrative Review
Rolando Giovanni Díaz-Zavala et al. · Journal of Obesity · 2017
DOI 10.1155/2017/2085136
narrative_reviewCited 74×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- The holiday season (late November to mid-January) causes significant weight gain in adults, with gains of 0.4 to 0.9 kg that are rarely lost subsequently.Moderate
- The holiday season does not cause significant weight gain in children or college students, though it may increase body fat in college students.Limited
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