How being in a couple could stop you being a couch potato

‘Nagging has been shown to backfire’

BEING in a couple could be key to becoming more active, a study suggests.

Couples who exercise together and spur each other on increase their workout times – in some cases almost doubling the time spent training, researchers have found.

Health chiefs recommend doing at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week but less than a quarter of the UK’s adults achieve this target.

However, encouragement and practical help from loved ones motivated even couch potatoes to nearly double their efforts – even when exercising separately, the study found.

The research, co-written by Aberdeen University’s Dr Gertraud Stadler, states: ‘We found partner-reported support predicted the implementation of daily activity in target persons.

‘The effect is remarkable – on days with high support, activity was 25 minutes higher. This difference almost equals the recommended amount of health-enhancing physical activity of 30 minutes of moderate activity per day on most days of the week.’

The authors said romantic relationships can serve as ‘active catalysts’ in ‘the pursuit of imporpersistence tant goals in everyday life’. The study states: ‘This can result in better health behaviours and physical well-being.

‘By celebrating successes and accomplishments together, in regular physical activity should be encouraged.’

The study, in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, involved 88 overweight couples who normally exercised for less than half an hour a day.

All wore motion sensors for the 28-day trial. Half were encouraged to send supportive texts, give advice and provide practical help, such as sharing chores.

Activity in both groups increased to more than 51 minutes daily, but with positive support it increased by half again.

However, the researchers warned that diplomacy was the key to a successful outcome, saying: ‘Negative control strategies – nagging, dropping hints, inducing negative emotions – have been shown to backfire.’

Scots athlete Eilidh Doyle, 31, has enjoyed some of her greatest successes since finding love with her coach and now husband, Brian. They wed in 2015 after dating for six years.

Mrs Doyle – Team GB captain last year – said: ‘On the track and in training Brian and I have a coach-athlete relationship.

‘Thankfully, I’ve not had any diva moments in training and he hasn’t shouted at me yet.’