View this email in your browser

By Matthew Rees

Food and Health Fact #26: Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, and body size

Food and Health Facts will resume publishing on January 4

In depictions of Santa Claus from throughout the world, the modern American version (largely created by the Coca-Cola Company) is rendered significantly heavier (and typically obese) relative to those in other countries. (See “Why Sinterklaas isn’t fat at all, and Santa Claus certainly is.”) Yet the inspiration for Santa Claus – Saint Nicholas – was of “slender-to-average build,” according to the St. Nicholas Center, with a waist of 33.86 inches. Analysis of his remains showed strong teeth, which “indicated that his diet was primarily vegetarian.”