Family, Friends & Losing Weight

I read this short article off the Dr. Weil site about losing weight based on the company you keep:

"According to researchers at the University of California at San Diego and Harvard, if your friends or family are overweight, there is an increased chance you are (or will be) overweight as well. A 32-year study tracked the weight records of more than 12,000 people, and found that the chances of becoming obese went up if a friend, sibling or spouse also gained too much weight - an increased risk of 57 percent, 40 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Researchers concluded that the participants were influenced by similar attitudes, behaviors and acceptance of obesity - in other words, you may not feel so bad about being fat if your best friends and closest relatives are fat. The researchers suggested that their findings may have implications for how to better deal with obesity - rather than treating individuals, it might be more useful to treat groups of friends and relatives together."

To me, I say "DUH"!!!! I have known this my whole life growing up "fat". My whole family was overweight & the food we were fed was not the healthiest to say the least. That does not make me love my parents (unfortunately no longer with me) any less.

But, come on, we all know that we are influenced & learn by what we see and are brought up on. Have you seen some of these shows where the parents are so upset about their heavy children but they are way overweight themselves & keep bringing unhealthy foods in the house yet expect the kids to change. Crazy!!! Set an example yourself for your children.

As for friends, we all know the stories of keeping company with those that make you feel comfortable & less "fat". We also hear about the sad stories of people that are losing or did lose weight but have their friends try to sabotage them or abandon the friendship once the person loses weight.

To me, the study above is a given... sad, but a given. Surround yourself with people that make you feel good about yourself & want you to accomplish your goals!!!!