Here’s how the holidays will impact Americans’ health — and how much weight they expect to gain

A quarter of Americans are still carrying weight they gained during last year’s holiday season, according to new research.

The survey of 2,000 Americans revealed that 24% are still carrying pounds from the end of 2023; on average, this is almost 10 pounds.

They’re also expecting to gain weight as we approach the end of 2024: respondents think they’ll gain an average of six additional pounds before changing their calendars to January.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Herbalife for their seventh annual end of year survey, called “Holiday Healthy Habits,” the results looked at Americans’ healthy habits in 2024 and how respondents are moving away from those as the holidays approach.

Half of Americans surveyed said they’re less healthy than usual as the end of the year approaches — and 43% said they use the end of the year as an excuse to postpone eating healthily.

This varied by generation, too: 64% of Gen Z respondents admitted to using this as an excuse, compared to 43% of Gen Xers surveyed.

Regardless of age, the results also found that 53% have broken a diet at the end of the year — with 36% admitting it was due to the temptation of holiday food.

Many respondents are pausing their healthy habits so they can best enjoy the holiday season. Sixty-two percent of respondents said the end of the year is more enjoyable if they’re not worried about healthy habits and their weight.

Again, younger respondents were more likely to agree — 72% of Gen Zers, compared to 61% of Gen Xers.

They were also more likely to give into temptation this year: overall, 37% of respondents were more likely to give in this year than other years, and this increased for younger generations — 52% of Gen Z, versus only 38% of Gen X.

When asked why they’re more likely to give into temptation this year, respondents said that as they’ve gotten older, they’re more willing to give in and just enjoy the moment (40%) — and they’re more grateful to be with family and friends, and therefore expect their self-control to be lower (31%).

Current events are also weighing heavily on their minds, with worries about the economy (26%) and stress from current events (25%) including the presidential election (22%) also causing Americans to be more likely to give into temptation this holiday season.

“Embracing the holiday season means celebrating with loved ones, and it’s possible to enjoy it while keeping your health in focus,” said Dr. Luigi Gratton, vice president of the office of Health and Wellness at Herbalife. “Enjoy those festive treats but consider balancing them with nutritious options and staying active. It’s all about making mindful choices that let you savor the joy of the season while still feeling great. With a little planning, you can celebrate and maintain your healthy habits.”

Despite the number of respondents giving up healthy habits at the end of the year, the majority are planning to start 2025 off right.

Two-thirds (65%) plan to have healthy habits in the new year — estimating it’ll take just under 18 days before they’re back on track with these habits (or to start new ones).

As part of this, 36% plan to make a New Year’s resolution for 2025 (compared to 47% last year).

When asked about their resolutions for 2025, the top five matched respondents’ list from 2024, albeit in a slightly different order.

For 2025, those with New Year’s resolutions plan to eat healthier (51%), work on saving money (47%) and exercise more (46%). They’re also planning to focus on self-care (40%) and increase their amount of sleep (38%).

“New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to jumpstart your journey to better health, but the real key is sticking with them beyond January,” added Gratton. Start with small, manageable goals and integrate them into your daily routine. With consistency and commitment, you can transform those resolutions into lasting, healthy habits.”