Hanging out with right people makes a lot of difference in your well being and so also in your weight. If your friends are gaining weight, you too gain weight. This happens as the place you dine out with your friends can be places which serve unhealthy food. Fat friends generally tend to order larger portions, keep snacking throughout the day and also stack up junk food at home.

There are several cases I have observed among my clients on how they have gained weight after they have moved in with plump people or with those who have unhealthy eating habits. Moving into hostels too can make you fat if the food is refined, unbalanced or high in fat and sugar.

Friends are said to have a greater influence on weight gain as peer pressure is high. Teenagers like to hang out in pizza or burger joints where high calorie food is served and feel shy to ask for healthier options as they feel they are not “cool”. This is called social obesity which spreads from one to another.

But I say you do not need to fall in the same bandwagon. Choose your own healthy diet . If you feel that your friends are influencing where and how much you need to eat, they you will need to strike a balance. You need to set an example for them. Opt for a good exercise routine. Ask them to join you when you go for a walk. If you are staying with friends, cook healthy when its your turn in the kitchen but if they do not want to eat what you have cooked, then cook only for yourself. Its safer.

When you adopt a better lifestyle, they too will follow you.

BDST: 1619 HRS, Dec-31, 2013
Edited by: Sharmina islam, Lifestyle Editor