study co-author Michelle vanDellen, an associate professor of psychology.
“People are really sensitive to discrepancies or differences between their current selves and their standard or goal,” vanDellen said in the news release. “When they see that discrepancy, it tends to lead to behavioral change. Daily self-weighing ends up doing that for people in a really clear way.”
Other research has shown that pounds piled on during the holidays may linger and contribute to yearly weight gain, Cooper noted. Overweight and obese people are likely to gain the most during the holiday season.
“Vacations and holidays are probably the two times of year people are most susceptible to weight gain in a very short period of time,” Cooper said. “The holidays can actually have a big impact on someone’s long-term health.”
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on healthy weight.
