How Having A Gym Buddy Can Help You Build A Better Body

Building fitness connections can help you build a better body — and enrich your life.

- Allison Young

As humans, we need food, water, sleep, exercise … you know, the basics. But did you know social connection ranks right up there? “We absolutely need strong connections to flourish,” says David Karp, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Boston College. Research shows that people with strong social bonds are happier, have better immunity, experience less stress and live longer. On the flip side, feeling lonely can seriously hurt your health. One study found that a lack of social ties increases the risk of premature death by 50 percent — the same as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Yikes!