Sabotage and collusion could be derailing your weight loss journey,
finds study

Date:
June 8, 2023
Source:
University of Surrey
Summary:
Family and loved ones may be conspiring to sabotage your weight
loss journey, according to a new study. The study is part of
a growing body of evidence which suggests that not all social
support results in positive health outcomes.


Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email

==========================================================================
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Family and loved ones may be conspiring to sabotage your weight loss
journey, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. The
study is part of a growing body of evidence which suggests that not all
social support results in positive health outcomes.

Reviewing literature in this area, researchers found the negative side of social support in the form of sabotage, feeding behaviour and collusion,
which all undermine the attempts of those trying to lose weight. The
Surrey team found acts of sabotage, discouraging healthy eating, and
putting up barriers to attending support groups, often undermined an individual's confidence and self- esteem, negatively impacting their
attempts at weight loss.

Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology and lead author of the
study from the University of Surrey, said: "Weight loss often results
in change, from giving a person more confidence to a change in social
dynamics in their relationships. Many do not welcome such changes and
may, consciously or subconsciously, try to derail a person's attempts
to lose weight in order to keep things the way they are.

"We need to explore this area further to develop interventions which
could target family and friends and help them be more supportive
in helping those they are close to lose weight." Closely linked to
sabotage, researchers identified 'being a feeder' as a harmful form of
social support. Although often done as a gesture of love or as a sign of
wealth and status, researchers found that deliberately providing food
when the person is not hungry or trying to eat less can be detrimental
to weight management.

Interestingly, researchers also pinpointed collusion, which is often seen
to reflect kindness and friendship, as a form of negative social support.

Analysing a number of studies, researchers found a examples of family,
friends and partners colluding with those trying to lose weight through
'going along' with their behaviour when it is not in line with their
weight loss goals.

Professor Ogden added: "People pursue weight loss for a number of reasons,
be it for their overall health or to feel better about themselves. Support
from friends and family can be an invaluable tool in helping people
achieve their goals however sometimes those closest to them thwart their efforts by tempting them with unhealthy food or acting as a barrier in
helping them adopt a healthier lifestyle." This research was published
in Current Obesity Reports.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Health_&_Medicine
# Diet_and_Weight_Loss # Fitness # Obesity #
Staying_Healthy # Diseases_and_Conditions # Men's_Health #
Healthy_Aging # Sports_Medicine
* RELATED_TERMS
o Body_mass_index o Public_health o Health_science o
Epidemiology o Neuroscience o Zone_diet o Biochemistry o Anatomy

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Surrey. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jane Ogden, Sophia Quirke-McFarlane. Sabotage, Collusion, and
Being a
Feeder: Towards a New Model of Negative Social Support and Its
Impact on Weight Management. Current Obesity Reports, 2023; 12
(2): 183 DOI: 10.1007/s13679-023-00504-5 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230608121025.htm

--- up 1 year, 14 weeks, 3 days, 10 hours, 50 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)