Despite the hype behind the study, it's not as bad as you think. But you do need to keep an eye on the situation.
The news deep underneath the study is that as your friends lose weight, you will, too. That's the best news. If your dear friend loses weight, regardless of the distance involved, that person will tell you, and likely share how they did it.
I inspired people when I lost weight, and I was glad to do so.
But if your dear friend struggles, you might develop a notion that weight can't be fixed, and you both share a pint of ice cream and cry over troubles.
Perhaps these examples are too anecdotal, but it has some basis for this study. There are no physical elements to this study: no food patterns, no exercise habits, no health histories. The relationship is psychological.
Not to single out females, but women generally incorporate a friend when they lose weight, using each other as inspiration. It may be easier physically for men to lose weight, but psychologically, women have huge advantages.
For the record, I am not knocking the study. I think it confirms what we already thought. But I am criticizing the hype and the shallow coverage from the media.
So get a friend and get them walking, cut back a bit on the food, and see if the good part of the study can come true for you.
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