A new investigation by a researcher focused on obesity reveals that college students and older adults experience weight gain over the holidays, but in different manners.
As the holiday season wraps up, many Americans notice that they’ve gained a little weight—typically a pound or two. Studies show that adults aged middle-aged and older in the U.S. generally add about 1 to 1.5 pounds from November through January. Although this seems like a small amount, even a slight increase in body fat can lead to health complications. Unfortunately, once these extra pounds are gained, many individuals find it challenging to lose them, resulting in gradual weight gain over the years, which may cause various health concerns.
New findings indicate that while both college students and older adults gain a comparable amount of weight during the holidays, college students primarily accumulate muscle rather than fat.
Martin Binks, a professor and head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University, was surprised by these results. He commented, “The differences in weight gain habits between college students and older adults highlight the importance of understanding weight and health in relation to different life stages and transitions.” He continued, “In this pivotal transition period, the consequences of the holiday season appear quite different for college students than for older adults, leading to intriguing scientific questions about the reasons behind this variation.” Binks is eager to investigate these differences further in upcoming studies.
With over two decades of experience in metabolic disease as both a scientist and clinician, Binks has supported numerous patients in achieving their weight loss, health, and wellness goals to improve their quality of life. Since August 2024, he has been the chair of George Mason’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. This recent study was conducted by undergraduate students under the mentorship of graduate students and Binks himself. “Mentoring students in meaningful research is a lifelong passion of mine and is a key part of the mission for the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason,” Binks stated.
The journal Obesity Science & Practice published an article titled “Holiday Weight Change in a US College Student Sample: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study” in January 2025. The study had several contributors, including lead author Hannah B Yoo, along with Casen Bigham, Sharmin Akter, Alexis Brown, Shruthi Durai, and Claire Brown from Texas Tech University; Tanisha Basu from the University of Cincinnati; Tiffany Tsai from Princeton University; and Sara Kiros from the University of Oregon.
