Struggling to shift the pounds? Blame your FAMILY, scientists say trends now

Struggling to shift the pounds? Blame your FAMILY, scientists say trends now
Struggling to shift the pounds? Blame your FAMILY, scientists say trends now

Struggling to shift the pounds? Blame your FAMILY, scientists say trends now

Losing weight can feel like an insurmountable task, but new research shows our loved ones could be making it even harder for us. 

According to British psychologists, friends and family may be conspiring to 'sabotage' our efforts to lose weight, either deliberately or 'unconsciously'. 

They may be doing this by discouraging us from attending weight loss support groups or from eating healthily, perhaps by tempting us with sugary treats. 

Others may be 'colluding' with us to stay in and watch a film on the sofa after work, rather than going out for a walk or going to the gym. 

The new study follows a worrying report that predicts more than half of the world's 8 billion people will be overweight by 2035

Friends and family may be conspiring to 'sabotage' our efforts to lose weight, although sometimes it's not deliberate (file photo)

Friends and family may be conspiring to 'sabotage' our efforts to lose weight, although sometimes it's not deliberate (file photo)

It was conducted by University of Surrey experts who claim that 'not all social support is beneficial' and can be negative rather than positive. 

The experts reviewed existing studies and new primary data from 30 interviews to determine negative social support that someone might face when they're trying to lose weight. 

From this they were able to identify three primary ways that a friend, partner or family member can disrupt our weight loss journey – 'sabotage', 'collusion' and 'feeding'. 

Sabotage is the 'active and intentional undermining of another person's weight goals' and can include discouraging us from switching to a healthier diet, perhaps by pointing out the extra costs or saying the food isn't as tasty. 

So-called 'saboteurs' can also undermine our efforts to increase physical activity, perhaps by refusing to go for walks with us or highlighting the cost of a gym membership.

Meanwhile, 'collusion' is what study author Professor Jane Ogden describes as something 'we do all the time in all of our lives' in the presence of loved ones. 

'For example a person doesn't really want to eat well or do any exercise or want to go to their weight loss support group and says 'Oh I don't think I can be bothered to go this evening',' Professor Ogden told MailOnline.

'A good friend or partner would say, 'No, come on, let's go for that walk', whereas somebody who is colluding would say 'Yes that's a good idea, let's stay in and watch a film'. 

'The partner goes along with it – so it's a kind of conflict avoidance thing. 

'It's what we do all the time in all of our lives – it's

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT The UK's most sustainable restaurants are revealed - and it's bad news for KFC ... trends now