Holiday Wellness: Mindful Eating, PT Strategies, and Healthy Habits

By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

The Holidays are here and dietary patterns change! Our physical therapy clients often come into our clinics and gyms complaining of new aches and pains, and with the perpetual battle of progressive weight gain. We discuss, in our continuing education courses for (physical therapists) PTs, the various dietary patterns that can promote inflammation and weight gain. But, what is it about the holidays that make them a particularly difficult time to eat health? Let's look at some information:

1. Overeating and Weight Gain:
- Many studies suggest that people tend to consume more calories during the holiday season, which can contribute to weight gain.
- Factors such as social gatherings, festive meals, and an abundance of high-calorie foods may contribute to overeating. Overeating is difficult to see when foods are ultra-processed: they are calorie rich but nutri...