Getting healthy with your honey
Are you thinking about making a healthy change in your life, such as quitting smoking, getting more physical activity, or losing weight? Getting your significant other to make the change with you can help you to be more successful, according to scientific research.
A study looked at data from almost 4,000 couples, age 50 or older who were married or living together. It found that both men and women were more likely to make healthy changes if their partner made a change as well.
For example:
• Among women who smoked, 50 percent quit smoking if their partner quit too, compared with 17 percent of women whose partners were already nonsmokers, and 8 percent of those whose partners were smokers and didn’t quit. The numbers were similar for male smokers.
• More than 60 percent of inactive men and women increased their physical activity after their inactive partner became active. This compared with only about 25 percent who increased their physical activity while their partner did not.
• Among men and women who were overweight, having a partner who also lost weight was associated with about three times the likelihood of weight loss. Making healthy choices can lower your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other diseases. The American Cancer Society recommends:
• Avoiding all forms of tobacco;
• Getting to and staying at a healthy weight;
• Engaging in physical activity;
• Eating healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables;
• Limiting how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all).