Research conducted over a a few decades has shown that those close to us are the ones that make us gain weight.
And now, Australian nutritionist, Susie Burrell, has looked at research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that we become like the people we spend the majority of our time with.
The expert took a look at the various people in your life making you fat – from your friends to your colleagues and the kids. Here, FEMAIL rounds them up.
Australian nutritionist, Susie Burrell, looked at research which said that we become like the people that we spend the majority of our time with (stock image)
YOUR FRIENDS
First up on the list is the people you trust with nearly everything – your friends.
‘Put most simply, if your friends regularly exercise and make healthy meal choices when eating out, you are far more likely to keep your weight under control than if your friends make poor food choices, don’t move much and carry extra weight,’ Ms Burrell told Body & Soul.
She explained further that friends tend to encourage each other to eat foods that they may not necessarily eat normally.
The expert’s recommendation? Be honest with your friends about your dietary decisions or change the environment in which you hang out with them.
Swapping seeing them over dinner for for catching up over a walk is a good start.
She explained that friends tend to encourage each other to eat foods that they may not necessarily eat normally (stock image)
YOUR KIDS
Ms Burrell said that parents people tend to forget about their own health as they are too busy focusing on the health of their offspring.
Often kids’ meals, sugary drinks and leftovers become a part of a parent’s diet as it is an easy hunger fix after a busy day.
‘Then there is the issue of choosing child friendly restaurants and take away which tends to be high carb, high fat foods that we too end up eating by default,’ Susie said.
‘The easiest way to avoid this is to ensure your nutritional needs are satisfied first.’
To help this, she suggested that parents eat their own breakfast and pack their own lunch first so as to avoid eating foods they shouldn’t.
Ms Burrell explained that it is when we are with family we tend to move back to childhood eating habits (stock image)
YOUR COLLEAGUES
At the end of the day the people that you work with are the ones you spend most of your time with.
This means that if you are surrounded by unhealthy food choices, you are more likely to adopt them yourself.
‘The combination of the fundraising chocolates; regular birthday cakes; unhealthy vending machines and office feeders can mean a disaster when it comes to our overall calorie intake,’ Ms Burrell said.
Her recommendation to combat this is to again plan ahead, bring in lunch when you can and simply say no to those trying to steer you off your path.
Ms Burrell also recommended paying attention to portion control and to make an effort to include more vegetables and salad on your plate (stock image)
YOUR FAMILY
Ms Burrell explained that it is when we are with family that we tend to move back to childhood eating habits.
It is also in these family situations where people are offered bounties of home cooked meals and are surrounded by impressive food spreads.
Her suggestion? Say no when possible, especially when it comes to foods like lollies and chocolate that are filled with empty calories.
She also recommended paying attention to portion control and to make an effort to include more vegetables and salad on your plate.