title: Weight and body composition change over a six-week holiday period.
abstract: Change in weight and body composition was assessed over a six-week holiday period. Baseline testing occurred the Monday or Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving Day (November 24 or 25, 2008), and the post-holiday assessment was the Monday or Tuesday after New Year's Day (January 5 or 6, 2009). Thirteen men and 21 women ranging in age from 23-61 years completed the study. The majority of participants (24 of 34) perceived that they had gained weight, and four did gain ≥2 kg. However, despite some changes to dietary and exercise habits, on average there was no difference between pre-holiday weight (74.0±17.8 kg) and post-holiday weight (73.9±18.1 kg), nor between pre-holiday body fat percentage (25.4±9.0%) and post-holiday body fat percentage (25.4±8.9%). Despite a perception of substantial weight gain, body weight and body fat remained unchanged over a six-week holiday period.
authors: Human Movement Science Program, HPER Dept., Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-7000, USA. dale.wagner@usu.edu
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Wagner
authors: J N
authors: JN
authors: Larson
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Wengreen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss