Research shows that hanging out with a healthier crowd is more likely to make you drop bad habits.  A study of 3,610 women between 18 and 46, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that those who move in healthier circles are more likely to eat well and exercise more.

“The importance of social environmental influences on health-promoting behaviors such as physical activity and healthy eating has been increasingly recognized.  Ours is one of the first to demonstrate the association of both social support and social norms with physical activity and eating behaviors,” says Kylie Ball from Deakin University, Australia, who worked with a team of researchers.

A healthy lifestyle is all about making better choices, so choose your friends by their healthy habits to help you stay on track.

Source: Kylie Ball, Robert W Jeffery, Gavin Abbott, Sarah A McNaughton and David Crawford. Is healthy behavior contagious: associations of social norms with physical activity and healthy eating. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity