Researchers at Ryerson University in Toronto have recently looked at how partners can assist each other with making dietary and fitness lifestyle changes. Their results show that partners can significantly improve the ability to achieve their dietary goals, but only among those relationships that tended to have supportive tendencies before the trial. In fact, they found that the ability to impact a partner’s successes as it relates to health is closely related to the overall health of the relationship.

Partners that were studied were able to help each other emotionally, physically and with actions such as the ability to change dietary habits and behaviors. 21 participants were observed and questioned for this study, mostly asked about their responses about medical diagnoses and the need to make dietary changes.

It was observed during the process that both negative and positive feelings and emotions played into the outcomes of the participants being able to achieve their desired results.

The goal of the study is to find ways that shared activities can promote a healthier lifestyle.