Explained – Fast Weightloss Diets
Did you know there’s a strong correlation between our habits, and who we spend time with? Researchers tell us that if we are regularly around someone, we start to become like them. This is usually thought to reflect in people’s opinions and attitudes; having a mutual regard for certain things, like the law or education for example.
Lately though, studies are claiming that we will have more tendency to be overweight if we hang around with others who are overweight. According to a recent news article, we have a tendency to consume more when eating with heavier people who we know well. A US research team looked at kids eating habits. They found that the heavier ones ate more when they were with their heavier pals than when they were with their slimmer friends.
Indeed, all the young people studied (aged 9 to 15) ate more when they were with friends than strangers regardless of their size. But the greatest calorific intakes were observed when overweight chums snacked together. The results of this study revealed several key factors. It found that friends have a key function where consumption is concerned.
Candidly it’s no great revelation that many ate more when in the company of friends. That would doubtless be the same if adults had been surveyed. What’s more, as our friends don’t usually challenge what we do, we assume that means they condone our behaviour. Subconsciously we’re placing the permission ball in someone else’s court.
Young people of all sizes were studied for forty five minutes. A number were teamed up with strangers, and a number with friends. Each pair had a mix of healthy and snack-type food, and entertainment.
All the ones who teamed up with a friend ate a larger amount than the rest. However it was the pairs who were both overweight who consumed the most in total. And the variations were considerable, as shown below.
Nearly seven hundred and fifty calories per person was consumed by the larger pairs of friends. Heavy kids with standard weight chums ate just under 450 cals, and standard weight kids ate approx 500 cals whatever weight their mate was. This influence extends to smoking and drinking as well with young teens.
This led the researchers to suggest that young people’s eating habits are largely determined by their social network. Yet this power of association can be beneficial, as positive influences are just as possible as negative ones. Healthy nutrition then should be part of every child’s curriculum.