One month of laziness leads to years of weight gain

Dietitians are warning the side-effects of a winter “veg out” could last well beyond the season.

According to research published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, just one month of overeating and being less active can have weight gain effects that last for years.

The Swedish researchers asked volunteers to overeat fast foods and limit their exercise for 4 weeks, expecting them to put on weight but then return to their normal weight at the end of the study.

But after 2 and half years the study participants were still over 3kg heavier than when the study began.

“It may be tempting to curl up on the couch and reach for comfort foods over the cooler months,” says accredited practising dietitian Pip Golley.

“But this study found even a short period of overeating and lack of exercise may affect body fat levels and make it harder to lose weight and stay trim long-term.”

Avoiding weight gain at any time of year is easier than shedding the unwanted kilos down the track, she says.

“Winter is a time of year when some people pull out the baggy clothes and give themselves permission to relax their healthy routine. But this is how the kilos creep on, and sadly this extra weight can hang around for months or years to come.”

Pip says that keeping a food diary can be an excellent way to stave off the winter plump because it helps you become more mindful of your eating and exercise routine.