To be Less Sedentary, you may need a more Active Friend

A new study suggests that social interactions can play a big role in getting people to be more physically active.

Key findings:

1. Social interactions can play a big role in getting people to be more physically active.
2. When people who are already moderately active interact with people who are sedentary, the sedentary people become more active in the long term.
3. When moderately active people become more sedentary, overall physical activity trends go down.

Recommendations:

1. Public health efforts to boost community physical activity levels should focus on encouraging social activities between sedentary and moderately active people.
2. This could be helpful for maintaining physical fitness in the military.
3. Individuals can also benefit from social interactions that encourage physical activity. For example, joining a sports team or walking group can help people stay motivated to be active.

The study used a mathematical model to simulate how social interactions can affect a population’s exercise trends over time.

The model showed that when people who are already moderately active interact with people who are sedentary, the sedentary people become more active in the long term.

But when moderately active people become more sedentary, overall physical activity trends go down.

The researchers suggest that public health efforts to boost community physical activity levels should focus on encouraging social activities between sedentary and moderately active people.

The study also suggests that this could be helpful for maintaining physical fitness in the military.