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Can Fat Come Between Friends? The Results Of Our Survey Reveal The Truth
Posted on Dec 28th 2009 10:00AM by Kimberly PapaFiled Under: Diet & Weight Loss
Would you really give your friend an honest answer if she asked whether those jeans made her look fat? Do you ever reveal that you are on a diet to your pals? We asked That's Fit readers to give us the skinny when it comes to friendship and weight, and received nearly half a million votes sharing the honest truth about whether fat can come between friends. Here's what you thought: 90 percent of you think at least one of your friends should lose weight.
How many of your friends do you think need to lose weight?
None: 10%
One: 10%
Two to five: 64%
Six to 10: 11%
All of them: 5%
Of those that felt their pals could afford to shed some pounds, 56 percent thought their friends should drop 20 pounds or more.
If you do think your friends should lose weight, how many pounds do you think they need to drop?
Five pounds: 8%
10 to 15 pounds: 36%
More than 20 pounds: 56%
Mums the word when it comes to weight. Nearly half of you would never say anything to a friend about her weight – no matter how much she gained.
How much weight would a friend need to gain before you mentioned something to her?
Less than five pounds: 2%
Five to 10 pounds: 7%
10 to 20 pounds: 20%
More than 20 pounds: 23%
I would never say anything: 49%
For most of you, fat could never ruin a friendship, but 5 percent admitted they would stop being friends with someone if they packed on extra pounds.
Would you stop being friends with someone if they gained a lot of weight?
Yes: 5%
No: 95%About a third admitted that overweight friends make them feel better about their own weight, while 22 percent said that's only the case if the friend is weighs more.
Do your overweight friends make you feel better about your own weight?
Yes: 27%
No: 50%
Only if they are bigger than me: 22%
32 percent confessed they feel better about themselves when they are with an overweight friend.
Does it make you feel more attractive or have better self-esteem when you are with an overweight friend?
Yes: 32%
No: 68%
When it comes to playing matchmaker, 70 percent said weight doesn't matter.
Do you set your overweight friends up on dates?
No. I'm afraid the other person would not find them attractive: 23%
Yes. If think they are a match personality-wise, weight shouldn't matter: 70%
Only if I am setting them up with another overweight person: 7%
39 percent reported that their friends sabotage their dieting efforts.
Do you think your friends sabotage your healthy eating?
Yes, by eating unhealthy food in front of me: 26%
Yes, by telling me I shouldn't diet: 13%
No, they support me: 44%
No, they support me and often diet with me: 17%
44 percent admit that they indulge when they're with a pal who eats whatever they want.
Do you find that you eat more or eat "bad" foods when you are with friends who eat whatever they want?
Yes: 44%
Sometimes: 48%
Never: 8%
Friends can be a good influence on weight loss efforts, though. Sixty percent say they eat healthier when with a friend who watches what she eats.
Do you find that you watch what you eat more when you are with a friend who eats healthfully?
Yes: 60%
Sometimes: 32%
Never: 8%
