Diabesity Challenge Tip: Surround Yourself With Support

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “birds of a feather flock together,” but did you know it applies to weight gain and even obesity?

According to Harvard researchers, the people you associate with could be affecting your likelihood of becoming obese. In fact, researchers found that overweight people have the potential to create a ripple effect among their friends and family that are not overweight.

Specifically, researchers found that obesity rate is affected by three factors:

• Personal contact through social networks
• Lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise
• The rate/speed of weight loss

On the personal contact front, the research shows that the average person has a two percent chance of becoming obesity in any given year, and that that chance increases by 0.5 percent for every friend, family member, and co-worker that is overweight.

Conversely, an obese person has a four percent chance of losing enough weight in any given year to no longer be considered obese. And, like gaining weight, losing weight is also influenced by the people around you.

The take-away message here is to surround yourself with people who support you in your weight loss efforts. If they need to lose weight as well, encourage them to participate in the mini-fast with exercise protocol with you.. That way, you can share diet tips and exercise strategies and have someone to discuss your struggles and celebrate your victories with.

I hope this information helps you as you continue your weight loss journey. Have another great week and keep up with the program…it works!