BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND LIVE LONGER.
The Osgood File. Sponsored in part by Stamps.Com. Save time and money. Buy and print official U.S. postage right from your own desk with your own computer and printer. Stay tuned for a special deal for my listeners. I'm Charles Osgood.
We all know that certain things like obesity, smoking, drinking too much are bad for us - and can even kill us. And we also know that other things - like a proper diet and regular exercise - promote good health and long life.
Well, here's what a new study says...
SOT - Prof. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Brigham Young University
"Those who had greater social relationships were 50 percent more likely to be alive at that follow-up than those who scored lower on those measures of social relationships." (:10)
You heard right. Some specifics after this...
((( SPOT )))
Psychology professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University led a study of studies covering 308,000 people - and found that a lack of social relationships was equal to smoking up to 15 packs of cigarettes a day, being an alcoholic - and more harmful than not exercising, and twice as harmful as obesity.
SOT - Prof. Julianne Holt-Lunstad
"The influence - or lack - of social relationships was comparable to many of these well-established risk factors, including smoking - and exceeded factors such as obesity, exercise, and air pollution." (:15)
But, we're being warned all the time about those other things.
SOT - Prof. Julianne Holt-Lunstad
"The general public and the medical community take these risk factors quite seriously. And, the evidence that we have makes a compelling case that we need to start taking social relationships seriously, as well." (:13)
That would include family, friends, neighbors, colleagues at work. How about Facebook and Twitter friends?
SOT - Prof. Julianne Holt-Lunstad
"This kind of 'social networking' is quite recent. And so, it's unlikely that those are accounted in many of these studies. And so, it's really unclear at this point whether those type of relationships might carry the same kind of benefits." (:16)
The Osgood File. Transcripts, podcasts, and MP3s of these programs can be found at theosgoodfile.com. I'm Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network.
The Osgood File. July 28th, 2010. |
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