Friends Rule in Social Health: Social Alliances Outweigh Shared Interests

Your brain is more responsive to your friends than to strangers, even if that stranger has more in common with you. According to new brain imaging research, social closeness outweighs shared interests, as was previously assumed. This has important implications for how we choose what type of support network might best serve us as we work towards a tough health goal like losing weight or quitting smoking.

Should you join a peer support group of weak ties? Or build a social support network of close friends and family?  This research would suggest the latter and this is exactly the approach we've taken at HealthRally. Not only will your brain respond more powerfully to your friends' support and suggestions but in the end they are the one's who really have a vested interest in seeing you succeed.