Taking a cue from the bears roaming the high country this fall before heading into their dens, many of us might be packing on the pounds before winter. The chillier weather makes us hungrier, leading to increased snacking throughout the day. Heavier meals are also part of the traditional daily fare. Unfortunately, unlike bears, this fat frenzy doesn’t help us sleep through the winter.
Scientists studying bears refer to this period as hyperphagia, which allows the animals to store enough fat to survive the winter months until it’s time to wake up and find food again.
Unfortunately, many of us are tempted to stuff ourselves into a stupor even before Thanksgiving rolls around. Traditionally, that high-calorie feast kicks off a season where rich foods become the staple of each meal until the end of December. While we may try to sleep it off, no such luck awaits us.
It hasn’t helped that the “eat-all-you-want-and-lose-weight” diet seems to be trending. There must be a fancy name for our mental block against recognizing the impact of gaining weight on our health. Perhaps those indulging in calorie-laden foods for months on end are suffering from “snackamania” or “hypergorgia.” Surely, someone is studying this seasonal condition.
Snack on, fellow snackamaniacs!
By Dolly Viscardi
