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Jolly, fit and fat: Should we be singing the "Santa Too Fat Blues"?

Cora L. Craig^*, Adrian Bauman^*, Philayrath Phongsavan, Thomas Stephens and Stephen J. Harris^¶

From the *Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, Ottawa, Ont.; the dagger;Faculty of Applied Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo; the Centre for Physical Activity and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Thomas Stephens and Associates, Manotick, Ont. ¶Retired, Guitarist, Ottawa, Ont.

	Abstract

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Santa Claus's apparent weight gain, much chronicled in the popular media, raises the question of whether his jolly persona could be at risk. We investigate why Santa remains jolly, even though he is becoming obese, and what factors could be keeping him upbeat. Measures of body mass, mental health and physical activity were collected from a representative cohort of Canadian adults surveyed in 1988 and again 15 years later. Remaining sedentary was generally associated with a low jolly quotient (JQ). In addition, a "healthy weight" pattern and remaining "sedentary" was associated with higher odds of a low JQ than remaining or becoming obese (from overweight) while staying active. Although mechanisms for understanding how Santa remains active are yet to be elucidated, we have uncovered a few clues and conclude that Santa indeed remains jolly particularly because he is active, and that a GIFT (graduated intensity fitness training) is good for combating the "Santa Too Fat Blues."

Photo by: Fred Sebastian

As it is universally acknowledged that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole in Canada,⁶ we examined prospective Canadian population data to explore whether a HAHA (Happy, Active Healthy, Active lifestyle) factor could balance the HOHO attributes, and whether this in turn might explain why Santa remains upbeat, even if he is not trim.

	Methods

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We surveyed 2511 Canadian adults between September 2002 and April 2004⁷ who were part of a randomly recruited cohort established in 1988.⁸ Those who were identified as depressed (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale value > 15, n = 114) at baseline were excluded from the study. In total, 1098 participants aged 15–69 years in 1988 completed the 1988 anthropometric measures and answered the questionnaires at baseline and again in 2002–2004. Early examination showed no selection bias among participants.⁷

Jolliness in 2002–2004 was assessed by the standardized mental health subscale of the SF-36 health survey.^9,10 A low jolly quotient (JQ) was defined as a below-median score. Height and weight were self-reported in 2002–2004 and were measured in 1988 using standardized protocols.¹¹ Standardized and validated adaptations of the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire^12,13 were administered in 1988 and 2002–2004.⁷ This measure was checked for being good or bad, and it was found to be good, for goodness sake.¹³

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight and classified as "healthy" (< 25), "overweight" (25–29) and "obese" ( 30). Four BMI patterns over the 15-year period were categorized as (a) "healthy weight": maintaining or reducing to a healthy weight; (b) "gained": becoming overweight/obese from a healthy weight; (c) remaining "overweight," including reduced from obese; and (d) remaining "obese" or became obese from overweight. An energy expenditure score was calculated by summing the products of the metabolic cost of each type of physical activity reported, its duration in hours and the average number of occasions per week.¹³ Levels were defined in kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per day (KKD) as "sufficient" ( 1.5 KKD, equivalent to dancing and prancing about 15 minutes daily); "low" (0.5–1.4 KKD); and "sedentary" (< 0.5 KKD). Four patterns of physical activity over the 15-year period were created: (a) "maintain": remaining sufficiently active; (b) "increase": increasing from low or sedentary to sufficiently active; (c) "relapse": decreasing to low or low activity at both times; and (d) "sedentary": either reducing to or remaining sedentary.

Adjusted odds ratios of a low JQ were predicted from the patterns of BMI and physical activity over the 15-year period, controlling for age and sex. The healthiest combination, "healthy weight" and "maintain," served as the referent.

	Results

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View larger version (49K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1: Adjusted odds of low jolly quotient (JQ)* in 2002–2004 by changes in body mass index and physical activity patterns since 1988 in Canadian adults. *Below median standardized mental health score.

	Interpretation

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This analysis helps to explain why an active, albeit overweight, Santa Claus is as likely to be as jolly as a "healthy weight" adult. The mechanisms for understanding how Santa remains active have yet to be elucidated. Could Santa have managed to buck the odds, with the help of activity-supporting reindeer?

Consider these clues. It is undoubtedly the team leader who coaches the reindeer for the annual Reindeer Games.¹⁴ This would require at least a low level of activity. However, to have the stamina to travel at light speed,¹⁵ Santa must follow a strict fitness regime like other racing drivers.¹⁶ Furthermore, ELF (Enhanced Lung Function) appears to be associated with GIFT (Graduated Intensity Fitness Training) programs. Finally, the ability to race from rooftop to rooftop and contort through chimneys of all shapes and sizes indicates that although Santa may be cheerful, he is also likely to practise JOLLY (JOgging and Life-Long Yoga). This is the secret of Santa's persona.

We conclude that Santa Claus indeed remains jolly, because he is active. The carousing Christmas corollary for us and our coronaries is to ask Santa to bring us all the special GIFT of an active lifestyle. It is good medicine to combat the "Santa Too Fat Blues."

	Footnotes

 
Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Ethics of Belief Committee, North Pole, and the Ethics Review Board, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Que. (seriously).

Signed consent: All participants (except Santa) signed informed consent forms according to the requirements of the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute and the Ethics Review Board of the Université de Montréal.

This article was peer reviewed by some short but fit people found chasing a wayward reindeer at the local shopping mall.

Acknowledgements: We sincerely thank our following international colleagues for their insights into Christmas lore: R. Petteri (Finland), D. Dasher and D. Dancer (United Kingdom), P. Prjón and V. Refalæa (Iceland); C. Komma and C. Cupido (Sweden), and D. Donner and B. Blixten (the Netherlands).

Competing interests: Plenty. Everyone has a stake in the well-being of Santa.

Details of funding and independence of authors: Milk and cookies donated by millions of people worldwide. The current wave of data collection for the study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Strategic Joint Initiative Grant on Society, Culture and the Health of Canadians II Grant No. 839–2000–1032). The 1988 data collection was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (formerly Fitness Canada), National Health Research Development Program Health Canada and Campbell Soup Company Ltd. Although all authors are independent of the funding bodies, the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute receives funding on an annual basis from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

	REFERENCES

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2. Autrey G, Haldeman O. Here comes Santa Claus. 1947. Available: www.the-north-pole.com/carols/herecomes.html (accessed 2006 Oct 2).
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5. Sci/Tech News Staff. Softpedia News. The "Jolly Fat" stereotype is myth: even Santa Claus gets depressed. July 6, 2006. Available: http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-039-Jolly-Fat-039-Stereotype-is-Myth-Even-Santa-Claus-Gets-Depressed-28853.shtml (accessed 2006 Oct 2).
6. Canada Post. Write to Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, HOH OHO. Available: www.canadapost.ca/corporate/about/newsroom/pr/archive-e.asp?prid=1030 (accessed 2006 Oct 2).
7. Craig CL, Gauvin L, Cragg SE, et al. Towards a social epidemiological perspective of physical activity and health: the aims, design and methods of the Physical Activity Longitudinal Study (PALS). JPAH 2005;3:272-84.
8. Stephens TM, Craig CL. The well-being of Canadians: highlights of the 1988 Campbell's Survey. Ottawa: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute; 1990.
9. McHorney CA, Ware JE, Raczek AE. The MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36r):III tests of data quality, scaling assumptions and reliability across diverse patient groups. Med Care 1994;32:40-66.[Medline]
10. Ware JE, Kosinski M, Dewey JE. How to score version 2 of the SF-36 Health Survey. Lincoln, RI: QualityMetric Inc.; 2000.
11. Fitness Canada. Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness (CSTF): Operations Manual. 3rd Edition. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services; 1987.
12. Taylor HL, Jacobs DR Jr, Shucker B, et al. A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure time physical activities. J Chronic Dis 1978;31:741-55.[CrossRef][Medline]
13. Craig CL, Russell SJ, Cameron C. Reliability and validity of Canada's Physical Activity Monitor for assessing trends. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002;34:1462-7.
14. Marks J. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. 1949. Available: www.the-north-pole.com/carols/rudolph.html (accessed 2006 Oct 2).
15. See NORAD information on the history and methods used to track Santa Claus. Available: www.noradsanta.org/en/how_we_do_it.php (accessed 2006 Oct 2).
16. See Formula 1 fitness requirements for drivers. Available: www.formula1.com/insight/technicalinfo/11/980.html (accessed 2006 Oct 2).

This Article Abstract Figures Only Full Text (PDF) Online Appendix Submit a response View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Craig, C. L. Articles by Harris, S. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Craig, C. L. Articles by Harris, S. J. Related Collections Humour Related Articles

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