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Giving in to the temptation can cost you. According to former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, it's during the winter holidays that Americans put on the most weight. Just overeating a little each day can bring you into the new year plumper--during the holidays American adults put on six to eight pounds on average, which can take months of hard work to lose. And Americans already have statistics working against them: U.S. obesity rates, among the highest in the world, have increased from 25 percent of adults in 1980 to 34 percent today. And since obesity is directly linked to a number of disabling and life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis, it's wise to keep the weight off.
 Don't panic--strategize
Calculating calories is an important strategy in your fight against holiday weight gain. Our resident ThirdAge doctor, Walter Bortz, advises that you follow the same advice that you do the rest of the year to maintain your optimal weight: "Figure out how many calories you need and track how many you eat. It's that simple." Granted, you may not be able to calculate the exact number of calories in every dish on the table, but you can spot real trouble. Known high-fat foods such as stuffing and rich desserts should be eaten in small portions, and if you're prone to overindulgence, avoid them completely.
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