Women often prefer support from their partner or an online weight-loss buddy rather than from friends during their slimming journey.
Key insight: While half of overweight women feel extra motivated to lose weight upon seeing an overweight friend, slimmer women don't seek support from girlfriends. They prefer it from their partner or online peers. This comes from a 2020 survey by nutritionist Anne de Graaf of Losing Weight with Anne on Valtaf.nl, based on responses from 340 women.
Overweight concerns
Of the respondents, 67 percent are overweight. They all have one or more overweight friends. Half worry about the health of their overweight girlfriends but rarely voice it. Interestingly, just as many appreciate having heavier friends, as it makes them appear slimmer by comparison.
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Half of the women say they've never felt ashamed of a heavier friend. Yet, nearly a quarter feel ashamed of their own weight when overweight. Overweight women tend to be stricter toward others: 75 percent admit to having stared at, laughed at, or criticized someone overweight, compared to just 15 percent of those at a healthy weight.
Perceptions of attractiveness?
All respondents rated their friends as having a healthy weight. One in ten only did so if they themselves maintained a healthy weight. Notably, one third of women find overweight uglier in themselves than in others. Additionally, half envy those who feel confident in their skin despite being overweight.
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