How much weight do most people gain over the holidays?

Very few people really gain as much as five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The weight gain comes after the holidays, when people don't drop that one little pound. A study of 195 adults showed that -- from late September to early March -- the majority put on 1.06 pounds in six months' time.



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The first measurements were taken one week prior to vacation, then again one week and six weeks post-vacation. The study found that 61 percent of the participants gained weight while on vacation, with an average gain of 0.7 pounds, and that the weight gained throughout the entire study averaged 0.9 pounds.

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Weight gained after a vacation or indulgent weekend doesn't mean you've put on fat. It's probably just water retention, experts say. Rebel Wilson said she gained almost seven pounds while on vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Eating more salt and carbs can make us gain water weight, not fat, a dietitian said.

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Circadian rhythms change as people fly through different time zones. Researchers have found that these changes affect the metabolism and the levels of certain bacteria in the intestines, both of which can result in weight gain.

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