Regular partner swapping could be the key to keeping fit and healthy.
That’s one of the key messages from a study of gym habits carried out by an Aberdeen University behavioural expert.
Health psychologist Pamela Rackow found people who recruited a fresh exercise “buddy” were more likely to stick to their regime.
And knowing someone else had a stake in their keep-fit efforts appeared to be more important than having them beside them on the treadmill.
The Swiss-born researcher monitored the activity of almost 100 people who switched to sharing their physical activity with a new person.
She found they exerted themselves more than another group of 79 who continued with existing partners-in-exercise or solo programmes.
Dr Rackow became intrigued by the subject after reading a leaflet extolling the motivational virtues of shared keep-fit routines.
She discovered that although it was a well-established idea, no one had ever tested it scientifically.
“I wanted to know if this was true,” she said.
“The idea was to test in a very natural setting what is happening when two people get together with the aim to exercise more.
“I think I would suggest changing your buddy every now and then.
“You can also try a different sport from time to time.”
The research found that the emotional support offered by an exercise partner was often more important than the practical.
Dr Rackow said: “People are always sick or on holiday. But even when one person says ‘I can’t really do it today’, just knowing that they will later ask you how it went really does help motivate you to do it.
“Our results showed that the emotional social support by the new sports companion was the most effective. Thus, it is more important to encourage each other than doing the actual activity together.”
The study also suggests that having a group of “buddies” may be the best approach – and that it is not necessary to find people with the same level of fitness.
Dr Rackow is now looking at “sports social networks” and how encouraging people to join forces could help promote a more healthy lifestyle and start to combat the dangerous rise in obesity.