Can a Buddy Be Good For Your Health?
In an episode of the 1990s sitcom “News Radio,” co-anchor Bill McNeal (Phil Hartman) wants to stop smoking, while news director Dave Nelson (Dave Foley) attempts to give up coffee. It’s clear they aren’t going to help each other become successful when Bill says: “Come on, Dave. We went a full nine and half hours. Must we continue this little charade?”
Even though those two failed, quitting a bad habit is easier when you have a buddy.
In one study of 109 people, folks on a diet with weight-loss buddies who were successfully shedding pounds lost twice as much weight as dieters who went it alone. Another study found that having a new workout buddy can skyrocket your commitment to exercise regularly. There’s also the study that found the odds of quitting smoking are nearly sixfold higher for couples who quit together than for someone who tries to break the habit solo.
Excerpted from the Texarkana Gazette
