According to a new survey, three-quarters of Americans plan to enjoy the end of the year and not worry about their diet, compared to just half last year.
The results revealed that 72% of the 2,000 Americans surveyed this year want to make the most of the end of the year, regardless of what that means for their diet, compared to 54% in last year’s survey.
That attitude may help explain why respondents to the sixth annual “Keeping the End of the Year” survey expect to gain eight pounds by the end of the year, compared to five and a half pounds last year.
In fact, 50% of those surveyed admitted to eating so much during the holiday season that they had to undo a button on their pants or loosen a belt, and 35% even ate until they felt sick or full. to explode.
Not only that, but respondents have also eaten more than three meals a day (47%) or more than one dessert in one meal (42%), and many have eaten more than one meal of the same meal in one day ( 59% ).
The results, commissioned by Herbalife and conducted by OnePoll, revealed that two-thirds (66%) of respondents use the end of the year to postpone their health status, an increase of 24% from the previous year.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed admit to breaking a diet by the end of the year; for 48% of them, it was due to the temptation of Christmas food.
When it comes to gaining weight, 78% of respondents admit they gained weight last year and 38% still carry some of those extra pounds from the 2022 holidays.
“The end of the year should be a time to focus on family, friends and self-care,” said Dr. Kent Bradley, Herbalife Chief Health and Nutrition Officer. “Identify specific, achievable actions you want to take to improve your health and your mindset, and if you can, take your friends and family on that journey to health.”
Despite giving in to temptation at the end of the year, 68% of those surveyed are confident of having healthy habits in the new year.
And it will take them an average of about 19 days to resume their healthy habits or start new ones.
As part of this, 47% plan to make a New Year’s resolution for 2024. This compares to 32% who plan to make a resolution for 2023.
By 2024, the top resolutions are to eat healthier (68%), exercise more (66%) and sleep more (56%). These were followed by focusing on self-care (54%) and saving money (53%).
Of those planning to eat healthier in the new year, the survey investigated what specific changes they are looking to make to their diet. Including more fruits and vegetables in your diet and becoming vegan topped the list.
Others may be adopting a more flexitarian diet: Planning to eat less meat, without making the full switch to veganism or vegetarianism, came third on the list of healthy changes.
“As we approach 2024 and think about ways to improve in the new year, be sure to take the time to plan and prepare for the positive behavioral changes you would like to make and be kind to yourself in the process,” Bradley said . “Remember, the best dietary changes involve specific behavioral changes because those are the ones you can stick to.”
At the end of the year, Americans have….
● Ate more than one meal of the same food per day: 59%
● They ate so much that they had to undo a button on their pants or loosen a belt: 50%
● Ate more than three meals a day: 47%
● Ate more than one dessert at a meal: 42%
● Ate until they felt sick, unwell, or full to bursting: 35%
Top resolutions for 2024
● Eat healthier: 68%
● Do more exercise: 66%
● Sleep more: 56%
● Focus on self-care: 54%
● Save more money: 53%
● Lose weight: 35%
● Improve my work-life balance: 30%
● Learn a new skill or take up a new hobby: 22%
● Make new friends/go out more: 22%
● Start a new diet/program: 20%
