A new study has found that if you want to be successful in your weight loss efforts, you should hang out with thinner friends. The study analyzed survey results from over 9,300 Americans. Overweight people were less likely to drop pounds if their social network consisted of other overweight people.
Although hanging out with fellow overweight persons may make a person feel more comfortable, they are more likely to lose weight if they socialized with thinner people.
The study did not establish causality, and the researchers are not suggesting that overweight people ditch their overweight friends for the time being. Further analysis is required to understand the connection between weight loss success and association with thin friends.
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Study author Matthew Andersson said, “What we don’t know is what respondents are doing with their social contacts, whether through texting, in person, or on social media. They might be going out to eat. They might be going to the gym. They might be doing something totally unrelated. We just don’t know. Also, the desire to lose weight in itself may be linked to other health traits, such as whether they smoke.”
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
