Are you aware that our behaviour patterns very often reflect those of our friends? The theory is that we turn out to be very much like the individuals we hang around with. For the most part this is interpreted as we hold the same belief structure or values; we quite often support the same sports clubs and political parties as our friends, for instance.
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.
Everyone in the group actually devoured more when they were in the company of friends, regardless of their size. But pairing up overweight friends led to the biggest consumption of all. The study was undertaken by researchers from the State University of New York at Buffalo. It highlighted the role friends play in influencing how much youngsters eat.
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.
The study took 65 young people of mixed weights and observed them for 45 minutes. There were pairs of friends, and pairs of strangers. They were given games to entertain themselves, along with snack food, fruit and veg.
With each of the pairs, the ones who knew each other before the experiment got through more food than the ones who didn't. However, the heavier friends tucked away the most. And the differences were quite significant.
The overweight pals who were paired up ate 738 calories each on average. And yet 300 cals less were consumed by the larger guys when they teamed up with a pal of normal weight. Interestingly the normal weight guys stabilized at around 500 cals irrespective of what their pal's weight was. Comparable evidence of strong influence from friends is evident in attitudes to alcohol consumption by teens.
A child's social network then is significant in determining their eating habits. What this means is kids can be influenced to eat less as well as more. Hence the necessity to educate the young.
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.
Everyone in the group actually devoured more when they were in the company of friends, regardless of their size. But pairing up overweight friends led to the biggest consumption of all. The study was undertaken by researchers from the State University of New York at Buffalo. It highlighted the role friends play in influencing how much youngsters eat.
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.
The study took 65 young people of mixed weights and observed them for 45 minutes. There were pairs of friends, and pairs of strangers. They were given games to entertain themselves, along with snack food, fruit and veg.
With each of the pairs, the ones who knew each other before the experiment got through more food than the ones who didn't. However, the heavier friends tucked away the most. And the differences were quite significant.
The overweight pals who were paired up ate 738 calories each on average. And yet 300 cals less were consumed by the larger guys when they teamed up with a pal of normal weight. Interestingly the normal weight guys stabilized at around 500 cals irrespective of what their pal's weight was. Comparable evidence of strong influence from friends is evident in attitudes to alcohol consumption by teens.
A child's social network then is significant in determining their eating habits. What this means is kids can be influenced to eat less as well as more. Hence the necessity to educate the young.
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(C) Scott Edwards. Navigate to WeightLossDietWar.com for smart ideas on slimming food and weight management food.
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1 comment:
Usually fast weight loss diet varies from one person to person, as the metabolic rates are not the same. Also your body type will affect very much the weight loss process.
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