Miguel de Cervantes once said, 'Tell me thy company and I shall tell thee what thou art.' How right was he! Medical experts have recently agreed upon the fact that your friends might be making you fat. And this allegation not only points out at your fat friends, but also at your thin friends.
The theory supporting this fact was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which states that obesity can be transmittable, like a social virus! The study reports that 12,067 people were closely followed for 32 years, from 1971 until 2003 and were studied based on their social ties, eating habits and dependency on friends. The answer, the researchers report, was that people were most likely to become obese when a friend became obese. This increased one's chances of becoming obese by 57 per cent. But, there's good news too.
This study also points out the fact how the 'monkey see, monkey do' action can be used as an impetus for change, too. How having healthy friends can give your health a boost, as adopting healthier habits is easier among friends with similar health characteristics. On the occasion of Friendship Day, we have listed out for you top 6 health benefits of having healthy friends:
Friends can help you workout well
A recent study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that our friends have a direct influence over our physical activity levels and eating habits. 'The findings suggest that healthy behaviour may be contagious. The potential to modify social norms as an intervention lever for promoting increased engagement in physical activity and healthy eating is worthy of further investigation,' lead author Kylie Ball of Deakin University, Australia was quoted saying in Science Daily.
Friends can help you in feeling happy
In a study reported by the LA Times and published by the British Medical Journal, scientists from Harvard University and UC San Diego showed that happiness spreads readily through social networks of family members, friends and neighbours. The study reports, 'Your emotional state depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don't even know.'
Friends might help you in sleeping better
According to the study of the University of Chicago people who feel lonelier are more likely to have restless sleep. It is a well known fact that sleep disruptions may lead to biological changes that could worsen health; hence a healthy friendship might just be your best escape from lack of sleep.
Friends can help you in coping up with sexual problems
According to a study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, men between 57 to 85 years of age could discuss their sexual problems, such as impotence, lack of libido or sexual urges, with their friends and felt less depressed. The study also states how on the contrary, talking with a physician is not a preferred choice among men facing sexual health problems.
Friends can give you a cognitive boost
Friendly chit-chat over intellectual things or solving random puzzles can go a long way in giving you a cognitive boost. According to a study published in the journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, a mere 10-minute of intellectual conversation between two friends, highlight a direct connection between social intelligence and general intelligence.
A healthy bunch of friends can help you in delaying the ageing process
Having supportive relationship and friendships in life, especially when combined with physical exercise and a feeling of control in one's life, helps in delaying the ageing process, says a recent study published in Brandeis University.
