If you're finding it hard to fasten your pants it may be time to start cutting down
Didn't think that the extra mince pie would really matter over the festive period? Well, it seems like it did.
Britons have piled on 188,305 TONNES of extra weight over the Christmas and New Year period, according to a new study.
The alarming figures reveal that the average British adult has put on 6lbs (2.7kg) during the festivities, with party food and booze the biggest causes of weight gain.
The survey of 30,000 people discovered we consumed an extra 755 calories daily – the equivalent of two mince pies and three glasses of wine, which lead to a whopping 90 per cent of adults putting on weight over Christmas.
Party food, such as sausage rolls and crisps, were cited as the main reason people piled on the pounds, followed by too much booze and a lack of exercise throughout December.
And while three quarters of respondents said they had started the New Year with a diet, only a third insisted they had hit the gym in a bid to beat the bulge.
In light of the results Atkins dietician Linda O’Byrne called for a new approach to eating and drinking over Christmas.
She said: “Gaining a few pounds during the party season is to be expected but as our extensive survey shows the average person is now piling on almost half a stone in a very short period of time. This is extremely worrying and the reason why we are calling for a new approach, far removed from the boom and bust culture that currently surrounds our drinking and eating habits at Christmas.
“We must learn to have a more balanced approach so that we don’t need to crash diet and make January any harder than it already is. There are real and genuine health concerns about gaining and losing a half a stone in a short period of time.
“Meanwhile crash dieting does not work in the long term, as many people will see the weight uncharacteristically creep on again.
“For those who are looking to get back down to their pre-Christmas weight and stay that way, they should focus on eating and drinking healthily; cutting down on sugar and refined carb intake and get some exercise. This, along with some patience, is the key for Christmas weight loss.
“Banning food groups won’t do any good either as this will only cause cravings and make it more difficult. Look to lean protein, vegetables, good fats and low sugar snacks; something that can be sustained and become part of a lifestyle and routine.”