WIN Notes Update: December

WIN Notes Update*

December 2014


Keep your holidays healthy


slices of turkey with cranberry sauce

The holidays often bring a whirlwind of parties, shopping, family get-togethers, and even travel. These changes in routine may make it hard to keep up healthy eating and physical activity habits and lead to weight gain. Average weight gain during the winter holidays is only one pound, but that extra weight tends to stay on until the next holiday season, which adds another pound.* That can add up to quite a few pounds over time.

To keep weight gain at bay, check out some resources that may help you stay on track during the holidays. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers 10 tips for healthier holiday meals and more active days. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute also provides tasty tips to help you and your family celebrate while keeping your weight in check.

Kids can get in on the act too. Kids.gov offers simple tips for youngsters on healthy eating during the holidays. It also reminds them that it’s okay to say no to offers of food if they’re not hungry.

* Yanovski JA, Yanovski SZ, Sovik KN, Nguyen TT, O’Neil PM, & Sebring NG. A prospective study of holiday weight gain. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2000;342(12):861–867. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200003233421206.




Diabetes rates increase in U.S. youth

Rates of diabetes increased in people ages 19 and younger from 2001 to 2009, according to a large study funded by the National Institutes of Health and the CDC. The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study is reviewing data from youth across the United States to look for trends in diabetes. Researchers found that type 1 diabetes rose by about 21 percent among kids of all ages, and type 2 diabetes rose by 30.5 percent among youth ages 10 through 19.

Both types of diabetes increased in boys and girls from all racial and ethnic groups. But the study also found differences among groups. Rates of type 1 diabetes—the type of diabetes most common among kids—were highest among white kids. In contrast, rates of type 2 diabetes were highest among American Indians, followed by black, Hispanic, and Asian Pacific Islander youth. The study did not address why diabetes rates increased or differed among groups.

To learn more, check out the full news release.




Watch for the next issue of the WIN Notes Update for…

…ways to be a health champion in the New Year—and where to find tools that may help.

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Connect with WIN

Follow WIN on Facebook to share recipes you’ve made healthier for the holidays. You’ll also read about tools to help you move more and make 2015 your healthiest year yet.



WIN presents the facts in Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths

You’ve probably heard many weight-loss claims. The Internet is full of ads for fad diets and weight-loss products. Some fad diets cut out entire food groups or greatly restrict calories. At best, these diets and products may not work. They may even be harmful. 

The updated WIN fact sheet Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths addresses common myths about weight loss, nutrition, and physical activity. The fact sheet offers evidence-based tips for managing weight, choosing healthy foods and beverages, and fitting physical activity into daily life.