Step on the scales daily on holiday to avoid gaining weight

Many of us like to let loose on holiday, whether that’s knocking back Pinot by the pool or eating ice cream twice a day.

But, leading scientists have claimed we should be weighing ourselves daily, even during our holidays, in order to avoid gaining weight.

According to Professor Jamie Cooper, of the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences in the US, holidays are when we are most susceptible to putting on the most weight over a short period of time.

However, stepping on the scales daily may prevent this from happening.

In a study of 111 people aged between 18 and 65, participants were asked to weigh themselves daily over the Christmas period from mid November 2017 to early January 2018.

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Provided with the number of the scales, plus daily graphs charting how much their weight had changed, the participants either maintained or lose weight over this period.

By contrast, a further control group, who were given no instruction on how to lose weight and did not didn’t weigh themselves, gained weight.

Published in the journal Obesity, the study found participants who weighed themselves daily would modify their behaviour in response to the changes.

Professor Cooper, who authored the study, said: "Maybe they exercise a little bit more the next day after seeing a weight increase or they watch what they are eating more carefully.

"The subjects self-select how they are going to modify their behaviour, which can be effective because we know that interventions are not one-size-fits-all."

He explained that the daily weighing practice can counteract the phenomenon of holiday weight gain, which could prevent long term health issues.

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He added: "The holidays can actually have a big impact on someone's long-term health."

Other weight loss practices – such as daily exercise – would not have the same effectiveness in preventing holiday weight gain, Professor Cooper said.

If you’re still struggling with your weight, you might want to look at your emotional eating habits.

A new study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, found that when we’re stressed, comfort eating can lead to us putting on more weight.

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