Couch potatoes are more likely to lose weight if they hang out with fit friends, study friends

COUCH potatoes are inspired to exercise more if they hang out with fit friends, a study says.

Two thirds of Brits are overweight or obese — a leading cause of illness like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The NHS says people should get at least 2.5 hours of exercise per week, but millions fall short.

Superfit TV star Mark Wright helped ex-Towie pal James Argent trim down from 27st and US scientists say buddying up works.

They looked at activity among 372 military personnel and found people stick together with those who are a similar level of fitness.

If left alone, the groups slumped towards becoming lazier and exercising less.

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But in a simulation that mixed fitness buffs with out-of-shape people, the inactive ones began exercising more to mirror their partner.

The scientists said encouraging averagely-fit people to keep exercising could have a bigger impact than targeting the fittest or least fit.

They added: “We found that discouraging socially acceptable sedentary behaviour will reduce drop-out of moderately active people.”