If it seems like it’s harder to lose weight in the wintertime, it’s probably not your imagination.
The cold-weather months are often filled with cozy gatherings with friends and family, and ample comfort food. But this increased time sitting indoors, coupled with heavy meals that stray from our normal diets, make managing weight challenging.
“Studies confirm that the average adult gains approximately one pound between November and January,” Christopher McGowan, MD, obesity medicine specialist and founder of True You Weight Loss, told Health. “Unfortunately, this weight often sticks around, and over the years, these incremental gains can accumulate and may significantly impact health.”1
Yanovski JA, Yanovski SZ, Sovik KN, Nguyen TT, O’Neil PM, Sebring NG. A prospective study of holiday weight gain. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(12):861-867. doi:10.1056/NEJM200003233421206
The tendency to put on a couple extra pounds in the winter might seem like it has some evolutionary basis—but “hibernation” or slowed metabolism likely isn’t to blame, said Sue Decotiis, MD, a weight loss specialist based in New York City. Instead, changes in our choices and habits are usually responsible.
