Sustaining Social Circles Supports Weight Loss
Milwaukee, WI – It’s common knowledge that regular exercise, a good diet, and proper sleep are key components to losing weight. How we treat ourselves is of utmost importance.
But how we interact with others matters too. TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds SensiblySM), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy, recognizes that social connections play a major role in every individual’s weight loss journey. Research shows that the more ties one has with those around him or her, the more successful he or she is in making better, healthier choices.
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Hallegere Murthy issued a national advisory calling the “epidemic” of loneliness and social isolation a public health concern. “Our relationships are an untapped resource—a source of healing hiding in plain sight,” he said in the introduction of his advisory. “They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives.”
Our social interactions and connections are part of who we are as individuals. We are born into relationships with others. Having healthy social connections means possessing a variety of meaningful relationships with a sense of belonging. You have others with whom you share a close bond, feel loved, and can turn to for both physical and mental help.
Having these types of relationships, along with healthy habits…
- Gives you a 50 percent chance of living longer.
- Prevents illnesses like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, inflammation, elevated blood pressure, dementia, and obesity.
- Leads to a quicker recovery from disease due to the release of the chemical painkiller dopamine during social interactions.
- Helps regulate emotions, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, due to the release of neurotransmitters during person-to-person contact.
If you feel disconnected or isolated…
- Reach out to those already in your circle. Call up friends and family and invite them for coffee or a meal. Remind yourself of the people in your corner.
- Volunteer. Helping those around you creates connections and gives you a sense of purpose.
- Meditate, listen to music, or enjoy the outdoors to reduce stress. Stress has a way of turning the focus on us. When you feel happier, you’re more likely to seek interactions with others.
- Join others in their weight loss journeys. You’ll see better results in your effort to exercise regularly and eat right when you have people to hold you accountable and join you. Stop by a TOPS chapter in your community and see how the encouragement and support of others can positively affect you.
About TOPS®
TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded in 1948, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information.
Today there are about 65,000 members, including men, women, and international members who join chapter meetings online, with thousands of chapters in all 50 states and Canada. TOPS also has an online program for people who might prefer that model or who live too far to attend in-person chapter meetings. Online resources include news and information from the health and inspirational community, meal planning ideas, workouts, chapter resources, and more.
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable, starting at $49 per year in the U.S. and $59 annually in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees. Join TOPS, visit www.tops.org, or call 800-932-8677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.
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