This study followed teenagers in the US into adulthood to see how their social connections influenced changes in body weight over time. Adolescents with stronger friendships tended to have healthier, more stable weight patterns as they grew older, while those with stronger family connections showed greater increases in body weight. These patterns were similar across different genders, ethnic groups, and ages suggesting that peer relationships in adolescence may play a role in shaping long term healthy weight.
Katie S. Taylor et al. | Social connections with family and friends in adolescence: Shaping body mass index trajectories into adulthood | SMM Population Health, 2025