This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 20th, 2015at 1:13 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

If You Want To Get Fit… Do It Together!

People are better at taking up healthy lifestyle habits if their partners turn over a new leaf too, new research shows.

Whether you want to start exercising, get fitter, lose weight or quit smoking, you have a better chance of success if your partner shares your goal, research suggests.

The British study looked at data from more than 3,700 married or cohabiting couples aged 50 and older.

Men and women were 3 times or more likely to achieve their resolution when their partner joined in the challenge.

Lead researcher Dr Sarah Jackson said: “It shows that if you can target couples or encourage people to involve their partners they may be more likely to succeed. Having the support of someone close seems to help.”

The University College London team selected men and women who were in a cohabiting relationship and who had unhealthy behaviours – either being a smoker, being overweight or doing too little exercise – at the start of the study.

They tracked the behaviours of these individuals and their partners over 4 years, noting if any of them quit smoking, lost weight or became more active.

They found that when one half of the couple changed to a healthier lifestyle, the other person was more likely to make a similar lifestyle change.

Seeing an unhealthy partner make a change provided the biggest impetus for an individual to do the same, but living with someone already healthier than themselves also appeared to act as an encouragement.

For example, a smoker was twice as likely to quit if their partner was a non-smoker but 10 times more likely to quit if their partner smoked but decided to quit too.

Similarly, living with a sporty partner prompted individuals to get active, but not as much as seeing a loved one change from a couch potato to an active lifestyle.

Dr Mike Knapton, from the British Heart Foundation which part-funded Dr Jackson’s work, said: “This is an interesting study and reinforces the notion that your relationships play a key role in your health.”

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK’s head of health information, said getting support could help people take up good habits.

“For example, if you want to lose weight and have a friend or colleague who’s trying to do the same thing, you could encourage each other by joining up for a run or a swim at lunchtime or after work.”

Feeling inspired to move a bit more? Find an Active Buddy and you’ll be more likely to achieve your goals. Start exercising with your friends, partner or work colleagues, and you’ll be motivated to achieve more and stick at it for longer. Bring someone with your for a workout next time!