After months of living, working, teaching, learning, and perhaps most importantly for the purposes of this podcast, eating from home, many of us might admit we’ve seen what has become known as the “Quarantine 15” sneak up on us, to some extent.

As the summer and “bikini season” stretch on, for those who may be looking to shed a couple of pounds, you are not alone. Each year in the U.S., the weight loss industry generates more than $20 billion from 100 million dieters, with countless options available relating to diet and exercise.   

In fact, we are inundated with them. From commercials on tv, to sponsored social media posts by our favorite celebrities, to grocery stores filled with reduced fat and diet food options. 

But what role, if any, does social interaction with others play in helping us achieve our weight loss goals?  And what impact could COVID-19 have on this?

For this episode, I am joined by Kosuke Uetake of Yale University and Nathan Yang of Cornell University, whose study, “Inspiration from the ‘Biggest Loser’: Social Interactions in a Weight Loss Program,” takes an interesting look at what role our interactions with our peers and their own dieting journeys play with our personal weight loss success.