Jun 04, 2025
Aarushi BhaduryMost adults (about 70.7%) are overweight and 37.9% are obese, and these numbers keep rising. A big reason for this might be that people's weight naturally changes throughout the year.
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While weight usually changes only a little bit (around 0.5 kilograms) over a whole year, it tends to go up during certain times and stay there.
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People generally gain more weight in the fall and winter months than in the summer. This is often linked to the holiday season (mid-November to January) in the U.S.
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During the holiday period, adults in the U.S. typically gain between 0.4 to 0.9 kilograms. This even happens in warmer places like the Southern Hemisphere.
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Past studies have been unclear about whether people in weight loss programs still experience these seasonal weight changes. Some said yes, others said no, especially around the holidays.
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This new study used electronic scales (smart scales) to track weight daily, which gives a much clearer picture of these small, ongoing changes without extra effort from participants.
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This study, focusing on adults actively trying to lose weight, found that they still gained weight from fall to winter. However, they surprisingly lost a good amount of weight the following spring.
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People in the study weighed themselves less often as the year went on, especially from summer into fall and winter. This might be because they expect to gain weight then.
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Surprisingly, those in more intense weight loss programs actually gained more weight from fall to winter. This might be due to less strict habits during holidays after feeling successful earlier.
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The study suggests that weight loss programs should consider these seasonal ups and downs. Giving more support in fall and winter, and maybe even encouraging people to start programs in spring, could be helpful.
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