Bonding With People Important For Long Term Health

A new study suggests that strong social ties are as crucial to long-term health as exercise and healthy eating.

The study which was published Jan. 4 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  showed that the more social ties people had at a young age, the better their health early and late in life.

The researchers explained that in teens , social isolation is as great a risk for inflammation as physical inactivity, while in seniors, social isolation is more of a threat than diabetes in the development and control of high blood pressure.

In middle adulthood, it isn't the number of social links that matter, but rather the

quality.

While the study showed an association between strong social ties and better health,

it didn't establish cause-and-effect.