The best source of inspiration when it comes to exercising might come from one’s spouse according to a study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of public health. The best peer pressure to get you moving when exercising could come from the person sitting next you at the breakfast table says, Laura Cobb, a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins.
The findings of the study were presented at the EPI/Lifestyle 2015 Scientific Sessions arranged by the American Heart Association.
Counselling married couples on health related matters together was found to be an effective way of increasing the level of exercising in some individuals. Medical records of 3,261 spouses associated with Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities were analyzed in the study with two medical visits being conducted for the source pairs with a gap of approximately six years. Physical activity levels of each of the spouse were recorded upon visiting and compared with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
It was later found that if a wife met the guidelines on the first visit. The husband was also 70% likely to meet the physical activity guidelines upon the second visit when compared to husbands whose wives were inactive. On the other hand, if a husband met recommendations on the first visit the wife was 40% likely to meet the Physical Activity recommendations on the second visit.
A prior research carried out in January found out that it was more plausible for a person to adopt a healthy way of life such as quitting smoking and engaging in rigorous exercising. If they had partners to look to. The findings, therefore, suggest that healthcare professionals trying to encourage clients to increase exercise levels may need to counsel both people in a relationship.
Obesity remains a major health concern in the U.S. and around the globe with routine exercising as well as healthy diets being mooted as the most effective ways of staying healthy and losing weight.