According to the study, published online by the journal of obesity, overweight and obesity in young adults aged 18 to 25 were more likely to have romantic partners that are overweight and best friends and they were also more casual overweight friends and members of the family to their normal weight peers. Also, overweight and obese young adults who reported having social contacts, trying to lose weight had intentions of greater loss of weight.
Why is it important? Youth experience the highest rate of weight gain in a year - usually one or two books - all group age or 40% age young adults 18-25 is considered adult obese or overweight. While previous research has shown consistently the powerful impact of social influence on health behaviors, particularly for younger people, no study has examined if social ties affect weight status and intentions of weight loss in young adults.
Senior author Tricia Leahey, Ph.d., researcher at the weight of control of the Hospital of Miriam and Diabetes Research Center, said as young adult is less likely to participate in a weight loss of behavioural interventions, and when they the fontils tend to lose less weight than older adults. "Programs for the identification of the factors that influence the State of weight and weight control in this era of high risk group can help us to develop prevention for this population and attractive and effective obesity treatment," said.
The study consisted of 288 young adults aged 18 to 25; 151 persons were weight normal, while 137 were considered as overweight or obese (BMI of 25 or more). The majority of participants were women and in the Caucasian. All participants completed the questionnaire to determine their weight and height, the number of contacts social overweight (including best friends, romantic partners, casual friends, parents and colleagues and classmates) and perceived social norms of obesity and obesity-related behaviours.
Study of the questionnaires of participants completed the overweight and obesity to assess how much of its social overweight is placed in contact now trying to lose weight, perceived norms for losing weight (such as the frequency of social contacts encouraged to lose weight or if the people closest of them would be approved if) they would lose weight) and intentions to lose weight over the next three months.
Compared to young adults of normal weight, those who were overweight or obese were more likely to have a partner romantic who are overweight (25% versus 14%) and a best friend overweight (24 per cent to 14 per cent). "Our data indicate obesity"groups"in this population." But Interestingly, social norms for obesity do differ between the two groups and that is not the group, "said Leahey.". The two groups reported of even low levels of social for excess weight, eat unhealthy foods and remain inactive acceptance.
The study also showed with the overweight and obese young adults who have had more social contacts, trying to lose weight were more likely that you want to lose weight on their own. Standards for losing weight, such as the encouragement and approval of social contacts, this partnership, say researchers.
Leahey is also behavioral human psychiatry professor at the University Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown. The study was funded by grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and digestive diseases and kidney. Co-authors include Rena Wing, PhD, Jessica LaRose, Ph.d., and Joseph Fava, Ph.d., Center for research on diabetes in the Miriam and Alpert Medical School hospital and any weight control.
Wing leads a new groundbreaking study to help young people to avoid taking the weight in the first place. The study of new approaches to prevention (SNAP), funded by the national institutes of health, will compare two different approaches to behaviours for the prevention of weight gain of 18 and 35 years. One focuses on the style of small life changes, such as walking a mile every day, while the other involves major changes, such as going to a normal diet, as a buffer against weight future gains.
(Source: life expectancy: Obesity)
