Three habits from school that predict your future weight

What did the study reveal about body weight?

Lead author Michelle Frisco, professor of sociology at Penn State University states, there are decades of research linking academic degrees with long-term health and well-being. But there’s an entire educational process leading up to those degrees, one that is shaped by high schools and supported by parents,

"To really understand why education matters for weight and other health outcomes, we realized we needed to take a step back and better understand how the educational process itself affects health," the researchers added.

Three school habits that really matter

Students who attended private high schools or schools with greater socioeconomic resources were more likely to maintain a healthy weight in middle age.

"Social groups influence health behaviors and lifestyles, and this process begins very early. It starts with families and continues in schools," Frisco said.

Attending more advanced courses in high school was also linked to better weight outcomes later in life.

Finally, students who were popular or socially active in high school tended to have healthier weight decades later.

The effects were especially pronounced among women — which, according to Frisco, makes sense given that women generally experience greater societal pressure to stay thin.

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