Weekends are usually a time to indulge and relax - either through food and drink or more sleep and downtime. For these reasons, weight is generally higher on Sunday and Monday, but is lower on Friday. USA Today reported.
This is common enough of a phenomenon that scientists have identified the trend and published the findings in the journal Obesity Facts. The researchers took down the daily weighs of 80 adults between the ages of 25 and 62.
"Weight increases begin on Saturday and decreases begin on Tuesday," according to the study, Newser reported.
But don't pass up the favorite sides and a second serving of turkey this Thanksgiving: a doctor noted on PLOS' Obesity Panacea blog that "cheat" days from diets on the weekends aren't necessarily a bad thing.
"It allows you to enjoy some highly-favored but potentially calorie-dense foods in relative moderation, potentially increasing long-term adherence to a diet," according to the blog.
Long-term habits were shown to make the study subjects gain more weight than short splurges. Grabbing a brownie or a beer on a weekend might help you sustain healthy eating the rest of the week. Compensating for short splurges the rest of the week was a big predictor in weight loss and diet success.
"Some indulging during weekends makes no harm but for successful weight loss it is important to notice these rhythms and take steps to reverse the upward trends," said Cornell University behavioral economist Brian Wansink, one of the study authors.
